Pikeville, Ky. - Coach Kris Kern's squad went 3-0 and took home the trophy in the 2023 Steph's Utown Swag UPIKE Invitational Saturday.
Game 1: UPIKE 3, Salem 1
UPIKE scored seven of the match's first ten points and never looked back. UPIKE took the first set 25-18 over the Tigers. UPIKE found themselves locked in a 10-10 tie in the second, then the Tigers went on a 12-4 run and led 22-14. UPIKE clawed their way back in it, cutting the lead to as little as two, but the Tigers ultimately took set two. The Bears roared back in set three, scoring 11 of the first 12 points and cruised to a 25-14 victory in set three.
With a 2-1 lead in the match, the Bears found themselves behind 9-7. The Bears clawed back and the two teams took turns going on runs without pulling away. Late in the set, Salem led 24-23 with a chance to take it to five. Kyra Looney made sure that did not happen after recording a kill to send it to extras. The Bears ultimately took the set and the match 29-27 after a kill by Yaricel Rodriguez and a Salem attacking error.
Yaricel Rodriguez led UPIKE with 17 kills, followed by Alondra Ayende with 12 and Lanie Hawley with 11. Hawley also led UPIKE with three blocks. Cheyenne Martinez led UPIKE with 44 assists and tied Lanie Hawley and Kiara Warrens with two serving aces.
Game 2: UPIKE 3, Warren Wilson 1
After a rocky start in set one, the Bears took over in set two. The Bears accounted for the first 15 points in the second set, with Bella Blackburn serving up three aces. Warren Wilson never got with 13 points of the Bears in set two.
After a back and forth battle in the early part of set three, UPIKE went up 18-9 after an 8-2 run. The Owls would cut the lead to seven but the Bears slammed the door on their comeback bid. Lillian Carpenter's ace ended set two, giving UPIKE a 2-1 match lead. Just like the third set, the Bears used a run midway through the fourth to pull away. This time, it was an 8-0 run led by two aces from Lanie Hawley. Leading 22-11, the Bears cruised to a set and match victory over the Owls.
Lanie Hawley led the Bears with 12 kills. Bella Blackburn led UPIKE in aces (4) and digs (12). Cheyenne Martinez once again led UPIKE with 29 assists.
Game 3: UPIKE 3, VU-Lynchburg 0
The Bears fell behind 3-0 early in the first but were never phased. UPIKE scored 18 of the next 25 and despite the Dragons' late push, the Bears took set one. Once again in set two, VU-L went up 4-0 and the Bears responded with a 10-1 run. The Dragons got back in it and took the lead midway through the set after a 6-2 run. Trailing 18-17, the Bears took over and went on an 8-0 to go up 2-0 in the match.
The two squads were neck and neck early in the third before the Bears blew it open at the midway point. Leading 10-7, the Bears went on an 11-2 run en route to a 25-12 set and match victory.
Cheyenne Martinez led UPIKE with 15 assists while Yaricel Rodriguez led UPIKE in kills (8) and tied Daniela Hernandez and Lanie Hawley with two blocks.
With today's three victories, UPIKE's record climbs to 8-2 on the year. Next up for Coach Kern's squad are the Bryan College Lions on Tuesday night in Dayton, Tenn.
#BearDown
