Simone Brown (SO/Monee, IL) leads the way for the Mountaineers

Last season, Berea College and UPike played a very tight three game match in Pikeville that went the way of the Bears.  Tonight in front of raucous crowd in Seabury Gymnasium, the Mountaineers returned the favor winning in three, long, tough, straight sets 25-20, 25-22, and 27-25. 

The Blue Crew jumped out to a big game one lead behind timely serving and its impenetrable block to ease home with a 25-20 victory.  The second set was a little tougher, with Berea having to battle back from a late four point deficit to earn the 25-22 victory.  The third set was an epic battle.  The Bears jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, before Berea began to battling back.  UPike served for the match at 24-23, and 25-24, but each time Berea found an answer eking out the final two points of the game and ending the match.

Simone Brown came up big tonight for Berea, leading the team in kills (eight), hitting percentage (.571), service aces (five) and chipped in with four total blocks.  Kyra Robinson (JR/Owensboro, KY) was also big tonight on the defensive side of the ledger blocking six balls (three solo and three assists).  With the BC block doing its job, the defense didn't have many balls to dig, but Taylor Ashworth (SO/Cincinnati, OH) and Sydney Short each scooped nine balls to lead the way.

The Mountaineers are back in action on Saturday, when they head north to take on the University of Cincinnati Clermont at 1:00 pm.  UCC is currently ranked 5th in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, while Berea is ranked 6th.