COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of Pikeville volleyball team rebounded from a loss last night with a 3-0 win over Columbia College on Friday night.
 
The Bears won 28-26, 25-11, 25-20 to improve to 10-7 on the season and 5-4 in the AAC. Columbia fell to 2-11 overall, 1-6 in the league.
 
Freshman Olivia Chapman led a balanced offensive attack with eight kills. Sophomore Lanie Hawley and Freshman Cassidy Rivas followed with seven kills, while sophomore Theresa Romero added six.
 
Freshman Tylie Barton had 32 assists, while she and freshman Lyla Reed had two service aces each.
 
Rivas and freshman Ashtyn Filkins had had eight digs each to lead the Bears on defense, while Hawley and Romero had two solo blocks each.
 
The Bears will be back in action on Tuesday night at 6:30 when Bluefield (Va.) College comes to the UPike Gym.
 
Bears 28, Koalas 26: UPike jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a block by Hawley, a service ace by junior Jordan Roberts and an attack error. But Columbia scored eight of the next 10 points to move ahead. The Bears responded with seven consecutive points, getting kills from three different players to lead 12-8. Columbia battled back to take the lead three more times, including at 25-24. But the Bears scored four of the final five points, winning on an attack error.
 
Bears 25, Koalas 11: UPike scored 10 of the first 12 points. A run of four straight points and a service ace by Chapman pushed the lead to 18-6. Barton set up Chapman for the kill to finish the set.
 
Bears 25, Koalas 20: UPike again jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first two points and eventually pushing the lead to 8-2 thanks to a Columbia attack error. The Koalas enjoyed a 6-1 run to pull within one, 10-9. The Bears' lead was again one at 13-12 before the Bears ran off four in a row, scoring three straight on attack errors. Barton again set Chapman for the final point.