Pikeville, Ky. - The Bears improved to 9-3 on the year following a 3-0 victory over Union College Saturday afternoon.  

The Bears and the Bulldogs were neck-and-neck in the first set until the Bears pulled away late. With the score tied at 16 a piece, UPIKE proceeded to go on an 8-1 run led by a pair of kills from Yaricel Rodriguez. Rodriguez got the final kill that gave UPIKE a 25-18 set victory and a 1-0 lead in the match.  

UPIKE scored seven of the first ten points. Despite the early lead, the Bulldogs came back and made it close. Later in the set, the Bears had a slim 21-20 lead. UPIKE closed out the set on a 4-1 run, led by a pair of kills by Yaricel Rodriguez. UPIKE took the set 25-21 and led the match 2-0. 

UC stuck around throughout the third set until UPIKE went on a 6-1 run to go up 21-16. The Bulldogs cut the lead to two, but the Bears slammed the door on UC's comeback bid. A kill by Alondra Ayende and a service ace by Cheyenne Martinez clinched the match for UPIKE.  

Yaricel Rodriguez led the Bears with 14 kills, followed by Alondra Ayende with 12. Cheyenne Martinez recorded 31 assists to lead the team. The Bears' defense was led by Bella Blackburn 

UPIKE is now 3-3 in AAC play following today's victory over the Bulldogs. Next up for Coach Kern's squad are the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs in Athens, Tenn.  

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