KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville closed out the 2025 regular season with a 3-2 loss to Johnson University on Saturday morning.
 
UPike opened with a close win in the first set. After Johnson took the second and third, the Bears rallied for the fourth set win to send the match to the fifth and deciding game.
 
Pikeville won the opener 25-23 before Johnson won 25-18 and 25-23. The Bears rallied in the fourth for a 25-21 decision, with the Royals taking the deciding set 15-7.
 
The loss ended a 10-game win streak for the Bears and will send them into the postseason with a record of 17-12. They finished 14-4 in league play. Johnson is now 30-6 on the season, 17-2 against league competition.
 
The teams will begin play in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament next Friday. The tournament is held at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.
 
The tournament action begins on Thursday with seeds seven through 10 playing to advance to Friday's quarterfinals.
 
Three Bears had double figures in kills, led by junior Lanie Hawley with 15. Sophomore Cassidy Rivas followed with 13, while senior Gracey Lovgren had 12.
 
Junior Chloie Brinton, who surpassed 1,000 kills on Friday night, added 50 more, completing the regular season with 1,052.
 
The Bears had six service aces, with senior Alondra Ayende having two of them.
 
Sophomore Olivia Chapman joined Hawley with six blocks in the match. Hawley had one solo and five block assists, while Chapman had six block assists.
 
Sophomore Ashtyn Filkins had 14 digs and was joined in double digits by Rivas with 12.