ATHENS, W.Va. - UPIKE volleyball was defeated 3-1 and 3-1 by West Virginia Wesleyan and Concord Saturday.  

Game 1: West Virginia Wesleyan 3, UPIKE 1 

After falling behind 13-7 in the first, the Bears went on an 11-5 run to knot the score at 18-18 late in the first set. The Bears took advantage of an attacking error shortly after to take the lead. Tied at 23-23, Tylie Barton connected with Cassidy Rivas for back-to-back kills to win the set 25-23 and put UPIKE up 1-0 in the match.  

The Bobcats scored seven of the first nine points in set two. UPIKE was unable to gain their footing in set two and lost 25-14. With the match tied at 1-1, the Bears and Bobcats were neck and neck early in the third. After leading 7-6, however, West Virginia Wesleyan went on a 19-4 run to close out the set and take a 2-1 match lead.  

Midway through the fourth, the Bears tied the Bobcats 13-13 after a kill by Theresa Romero. After the Bobcats went on a 4-1 run, the Bears countered with a 6-1 run and led 20-18. The Bobcats would close out the set with a 7-3 run and close out the match 3-1.  

Cassidy Rivas led the team with 12 kills, followed by Theresa Romero with nine. Romero led the Bears with three blocks. The Bears had five serving aces, led by Lanie Hawley with two. Tylie Barton had 37 assists and Ashtyn Filkins led the Bears' back line with a season-high 26 digs.  

Game 2: Concord 3, UPIKE 1

The Bears staved off defeat in set one after the Mountain Lions went ahead 25-24. UPIKE went on a 4-1 run to win the set 28-26 and go ahead in the match 1-0. The Mountain Lions roared back in the second, going on multiple runs early. Concord would take set two 25-11 and tie the match at 1-1.  

Concord picked up where they left off in the third, using another big run to take the set and a 2-1 match advantage. The Bears came out with a vengeance in the fourth and led 12-9 midway through the set. Later, the teams were tied at 17-17. Concord then went on a 5-0 run that carried them to a 25-22 set win and a 3-1 match win.  

Lanie Hawley had a team-high fourteen kills and was second in blocks (2) behind Olivia Chapman. Chapman finished with three blocks and had ten kills. Jordan Roberts had a season-best three service aces. Tylie Barton had a game-high and season-best 46 assists and led UPIKE with 15 digs.  

UPIKE is 7-5 (2-2 AAC) following Saturday's results. Next up for the Bears is another AAC home match against the Bryan College Lions. Game time for BC and UPIKE is set for 6:30 p.m. at the UPIKE Gym.  

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