PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville volleyball team ended a modest two-game losing streak and moved above .500 in league play with a 3-0 win over Bryan (Tenn.) College on Tuesday night at the UPike Gym.
 
The Bears won by scores of 25-23, 27-25, 25-13.
 
"I was proud of our team tonight," said Coach Mary Haynes. "We were very tough mentally and it showed."
 
Sophomore Lanie Hawley led the Bears with 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage. Freshman Lyla Reed followed with nine, while sophomore Theresa Romero and freshman Olivia Chapman recorded seven each.
 
Freshman setter Tylie Barton had 40 assists in the win.
 
On defense, freshman Ashtyn Filkins recorded 26 digs to lead three in double figures. Junior Jordan Roberts and sophomore Alondra Ayende had 10 apiece. Hawley had two of UPike's five solo blocks.
 
UPike is now 8-5 on the season and 3-2 in AAC play. It will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Barbourville to play Union Commonwealth University. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
UPike 25, Bryan 23: The Bears built a 24-19 lead over the Lions and hung on for the win in the opener. Leading 24-23, Barton set up Hawley for the kill to put the game away. Hawley and Chapman had four kills each in the opening set, while Barton had 11 assists. Defensively, Filkins had 10 digs.
 
UPike 27, Bryan 25: The Bears rallied from a 6-1 deficit to pull out the win. Bryan led by as many as six (12-6) before the UPike rally. The Bears finally drew even at 17 thanks to a block by Ayende, but fell behind again. Bryan led 23-20 after a kill by Lillie Van Metre, but two kills and a Lion attack error evened the count at 23. The score was tied at 24 and 25 before the Bears took their first lead of the set on a Romero block and wrapped it up with a kill by Ayende off a pass from Barton.
 
UPike 25, Bryan 13: The Bears jumped out to a 4-1 lead and led 19-12 before scoring six of the final seven to finish it off. Two Chapman kills set up the winner, a Hawley finish, with Barton recording all three assists.