GRAYSON, Ky. - University of Pikeville volleyball competed in a tri-match with Shawnee State and KCU Saturday afternoon for their final non-conference matches of the 2025 regular season. UPike lost 3-0 to SSU then won 3-0 over KCU.  

Coach Mary Haynes' squad is now 3-8 following Saturday's results. UPike will be back in action Friday evening for their AAC conference opener at Tennessee Wesleyan. Start time for UPike and TWU is set for 6:30 p.m. 

Game 1: Shawnee State 3, UPike 0 

UPike overcame an early 15-8 deficit in the first set, tying the score late at 22-22. Shortly after with SSU leading 25-24, Theresa Romero recorded a kill to tie the score at 25. The teams split the next five points. Later on, UPike led 30-29 but SSU would take set one after taking four of the next five points.  

Shawnee State led 20-15 midway through the second set before the Bears went on a 9-4 run to tie the score at 24-24, capped off with a kill by Olivia Chapman. Despite the fierce comeback, the SSU Bears would take the next two points to take set two 26-24 and a 2-0 match lead.  

In set three, UPike took the lead midway through the set. After a 14-14 tie, the UPike Bears went on a 5-1 run to go ahead of the SSU Bears 19-15. SSU roared back, closing out the set on a 10-4 run to close out the match 3-0.  

Chapman had a game-high 6.0 blocks. Cassidy Rivas had a game-high13 kills. Chloie Brinton, fresh off a Player of the Week honor, had 33 assists and 13 digs.  

Game 2: UPike 3, KCU 0 

UPike opened set one on a 9-2 run, but the Knights climbed back in the match and would cut the Bears' lead to 16-15 midway through the first. The Bears responded to KCU's run with a 5-1 run of their own and would go on to take set one 25-20.  

Set two saw the teams split the first 22 points. Tied 11-11, the Bears scored nine of the next ten points and held a 20-12 lead. The Knights made a late push, but a KCU serving error ended the comeback bid and the Bears went up 2-0 in the match.  

After KCU took the first point in set three, the Bears went on a 19-3 run. The Bears cruised to victory in set three and would win the match 3-0.  

Gracey Lovgren led UPike with ten kills and was second with a pair of blocks. Lanie Hawley led the Bears with 5.0 blocks. Brinton had a game-high 35 assists and a pair of service aces.  

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