BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University picked up a key AAC win on Saturday morning, knocking off the University of Pikeville 3-0.
 
The win improved the Bulldogs to 4-3 in the conference and 6-11 overall. UPike fell to 8-6 on the season, 3-3 in league play.
 
Sophomore Lanie Hawley led the Bears with 10 kills. Sophomore Theresa Romero followed with nine. Freshman Olivia Chapman added eight while freshman Cassidy Rivas followed with seven.
 
Freshman Tylie Barton had 32 assists, while sophomore Emily Johnson and freshman Lyla Reed had two service aces each.
 
Freshman libero Ashtyn Filkins led the Bears on defense with 27 receptions and 12 digs, while freshman Aspen Braaten recorded 17 receptions.
 
The Bears return home on Tuesday when they play host to Tennessee Wesleyan University. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Union 25, UPike 21: The Bears scored the first three points of the match, getting a pair of service aces from Johnson and a kill by Chapman. The Bulldogs then scored five of the next six points to take the lead. Another 5-1 run put Union on top 11-9. The Bears scored four straight, again with Johnson serving, to lead 13-11. But Union scored eight of the final 10 points to win the opener.
 
Union 25, UPike 23: UPike led 22-21 before the Bulldogs scored two to take the lead. A kill by Hawley tied it at 23 before Union got kills from Jasmine Porter and Raquel Kessler sealed the win for Union.
 
Union 25, UPike 18: A 6-1 run early put the Bulldogs on top 9-4. The Bears rallied to pull within one at 10-9, but steady play by UCU put it on top 19-14. The Bears got no closer than three the rest of the way.