PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville picked up its second crucial AAC volleyball win in as many days with a 3-1 decision over Union Commonwealth University on Saturday morning at the UPike Gym.
 
The win, along with Friday's over Johnson, avenged earlier road losses. They also ran the UPike win streak to four, making the recorded 13-7 on the season and 8-4 in the conference.
 
UCU fell to 8-14, 6-6 in the league.
 
Freshman Cassidy Rivas paced the offense with 15 kills on the day. Sophomore Lanie Hawley followed with 12 and sophomore Theresa Romero added 10 while sophomore Alondra Ayende had six to go with three important service aces.
 
Freshman setter Tylie Barton had 47 assists, two kills and a service ace.
 
On defense, Ayende had 24 digs to lead five Bears in double digits. Freshman Ashtyn Filkins had 23. Barton finished with 19, Rivas 15 and junior Jordan Roberts had 12.
 
Hawley was equally active on the defensive side, contributing two solo blocks and four assisted blocks.
 
The Bears will be back on the court on Tuesday, traveling to Athens, Tenn., to play Tennessee Wesleyan University at 6:30 p.m.
 
Bears 25, Bulldogs 15: Rivas got off to a hot start, recording seven kills in the opener. UPike led 4-0 thanks to three attack errors by Union. A 6-0 run pushed the Bears lead to 16-8, and the Bears closed it out with four of the final five points, getting kills from Ayende and Romero and a service ace by Chapman.
 
Bulldogs 25, Bears 22: Union jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The Bears came back to tie it, but the Bulldogs then scored six unanswered points to take control. UPike pulled back within two at 10-8 before UCU used an 8-2 run to lead 18-10. A 7-1 run by the Bears, which began with a Hawley kill and ended with an ace by Aydnde, pulled the Bears within two 22-20, but they got no closer.
 
Bears 25, Bulldogs 20: Trailing 7-4, UPike went on an 8-1 run behind the serving of Barton to take a 12-8 lead. UCU battled back to tie it at 12, and, even at 14, the Bears pulled away with six straight points. Ayende had a service ace and she, Hawley and Rivas all had kills. The Bulldogs got within three twice, but a kill by Chapman put the Bears on top 2-1.
 
Bears 25, Bulldogs 21: Union built a 7-4 lead before the Bears scored eight of the next nine points. Barton had a service ace while Chapman and Rivas recorded kills. Unfazed, Union scored four straight to tie the score at 12. The score was even at 14 before the Bears reeled off the next six, getting kills from Hawley, Ayende and Rivas. It got no closer than three the rest of the way.