BLUEFIELD, Va. - UPIKE volleyball was defeated 3-0 at Bluefield Tuesday night.  

Set 1: Bluefield 25, UPIKE 17 

Bluefield scored six of the match's first seven points before the Bears went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 7-5. Later, the Rams lead 17-12 coming out of a timeout and quickly went on a 4-1 run capped off by a block from Alondra Ayende. Bluefield called a timeout and went on a 5-1 run to go up 23-17. The Rams closed out the first set 25-17 and led the match 1-0.  

Ayende, along with Cassidy Rivas, had three kills to lead the Bears in the opening stanza. Olivia Chapman led UPIKE with a pair of blocks, while Ayende and Tylie Barton had one each.  

Set 2: Bluefield 25, UPIKE 14 

Theresa Romero opened the second set with a kill. It was back and forth in the second until the Rams went on a run midway through the second to go up 18-11. The Rams went on a 7-3 run to win the set 25-14 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.  

Set 3: Bluefield 25, UPIKE 14 

The Rams opened the match's third set on a 9-2 run, then stretched their lead to 14-4. Coach Mary Haynes called a timeout, and the Bears went on a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 15-8. The Bears' run would not be enough, as the Rams closed out the set and won the match 3-0.  

Olivia Chapman finished the match with a team-high nine kills, followed by Lanie Hawley and Theresa Romero with five each. Ashtyn Filkins led the Bears with 12 digs and Tylie Barton had 27 assists.  

UPIKE drops to 15-11 (10-8 AAC) following Tuesday's loss to the Rams. The Bears will return home for their penultimate home match of the 2024 regular season against the Truett McConnell Bears. Start time for UPIKE and TMU is set for 6:30 p.m. at the UPIKE Gym.  

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