Upland, Ind. – The University of Pikeville volleyball squad traveled to the campus of Taylor University for the two-day AMF Memorial Tournament this weekend.
 
The Bears dropped the opener to homestanding Taylor 3-2 before falling to Huntington (Ind.) University 3-0 in the nightcap.
 
UPike (1-4) will be back in action on Saturday. It will face the University of St. Francis (Ill.) at noon before battling Campbellsville University at 2:30 p.m.
 
Trojans 3, Bears 2: The University of Pikeville pushed the home team to the brink in Friday morning's opener before falling 3-2. The set scores were 25-8, 24-26, 25-13, 23-25, 15-10.
 
In the final set, UPike rallied to tie the score at 6-6 on an attack error, but Taylor went on a 6-2 run to take a four-point lead. The Bears pulled within two (12-10) on a kill by senior Gracey Lovgren but could get no closer.
 
Lovgren led the Bears with nine kills, while sophomore Olivia Chapman followed with eight and junior Lanie Hawley and sophomore Cassidy Rivas added seven each. Junior Chloie Brinton had 34 assists.
 
The Bears were credited with 18 block assists and four solo blocks, with Hawley in on six of those including a solo. Senior Theresa Romero had five while Chapman and Rivas had four each.
 
Brinton led the Bears with 20 digs, while sophomore Ashtyn Filkins had 19.
 
Foresters 3, Bears 0: After battling to a 25-21decision in the opener, Huntington was 25-13 and 25-16 to finish the win.
 
UPike had 27 kills in the contest, led by Romero with seven. Ayende followed with six and Chapman added five. Brinton had 20 assists, while Hawley had the team's only service ace.
 
Chapman led the defensive efforts with four blocks (two solos, two assists), while Hawley chipped in with three. Brinton stood out on defense with 15 digs, while Filkins added 13.