GAINESVILLE, Ga. – The University of Pikeville ended a modest two-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Brenau University on Saturday morning.
 
The Fighting Tigers took a tight opener 25-23 before the Bears rallied for wins of 30-28, 25-23, 25-20.
 
UPike improved to 9-11 on the season and 5-3 in the AAC. Brenau fell to 9-8 overall, 6-2 in the league.
 
Sophomore Cassidy Rivas led four Bears with double-figure kills with 19. Senior Gracey Lovgren followed with 14, while senior Theresa Romero had 13 and sophomore Olivia Chapman had 12.
 
Junior Chloie Brinton had a season-best 54 assists in the win.
 
Junior Lanie Hawley led the Bears defensively with six kills, three solos and three assists. Chapman had three. Brinton and sophomore Ashtyn Filkins had 12 digs each, while sophomore Lyla Reed recorded 10.
 
The Bears will be back in action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Bluefield, Va., to meet the Rams. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
 
Tigers 25, Bears 23: An early five-point run gave the Fighting Tigers a 7-3 lead, but the Bears returned the favor to tie the set at 10-10. Rivas had a service ace while Romero and Chapman each recorded kills. The match was then tied at every point through 18-18. That, however, began a 6-1 run for Brenau, which held on for the win.
 
Bears 30, Tigers 28: A 4-0 run put the Bears on top 15-8, but the Tigers then went on a 6-0 run to pull within one. A 6-1 run pushed the Tigers on top 20-17. Three straight points, keyed by kills by Chapman and Romero, put UPike in front 23-22. Brenau was on the verge of moving ahead 2-0 before UPike closed it out with three straight points, getting two kill from Rivas and a block by Chapman for the win.
 
Bears 25, Tigers 23: Four out of five points for the Bears was led by three Rivas kills for an 8-4 lead. Moments later, she recorded a kill and then served for a four-point run to move the lead to 12-5. The Tigers immediately responded with an 8-1 run to move in front 16-14, but UPike closed it out with a 7-2 run that ended with kills by Lovgren and Rivas.
 
Bears 25, Tigers 20: After three straight kills gave Brenau a 3-0 lead, UPike responded with five straight as part of a 7-1 run that featured two kills by Lovgren and one each by Hawley and Rivas. Leading 21-19, Romero closed it out strong with three kills in a 4-1 run to close it out.