SWANNANOA, N.C.— The Montreat College volleyball team saw a plethora of its student-athletes notch career bests on Saturday as the squad captured its first set victory of the season at ACA Gymnasium. However, despite displaying impressive resolve, the Cavaliers ultimately fell in four frames to the University of Pikeville Bears. With set scores of 25-12, 25-18, 27-29 and 25-13, the Cavs moved to 0-15 both overall and in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play, while UPIKE improved to 14-11 (11-3 AAC).
 
Montreat started the opening frame with a quick lead thanks to Elizabeth Harrington's kill from Cizzie Griffin's setup, but the contest remained close in the early stages. Sarah Alderman added another point with a kill, also assisted by Griffin, keeping the score tight at 2-2. Pikeville gradually built momentum with several successful plays, though, including a service ace to move ahead at 6-4.
 
Despite attacks from Ella Rose Livingston to keep the hosts in contention, the Bears continued to extend their advantage. The Cavs called a timeout trailing 13-6, but the visitors' rhythm persisted. Josie Leatherman and Genesis Hernandez managed to score late kills, but it was not enough to shift the tide. UPIKE closed the set with a decisive 25-12 victory.
 
In the second frame, Montreat began with early momentum as Leatherman delivered back-to-back kills, pushing the home team ahead 2-0. Despite a service error that allowed the visitors to get on the board, Montreat maintained pressure with Livingston and Hernandez contributing crucial points to keep the score close early on.
 
As the set progressed, Pikeville capitalized on a series of errors to swing the momentum, taking a 15-10 lead. A timeout by Montreat attempted to halt the Bears' run, but the visitors extended their lead with a combination of effective serves and blocks.
 
The Cavaliers fought back with more Livingston and Hernandez kills, narrowing the gap briefly to 19-14. UPIKE, however, preserved the advantage through continued offensive production, eventually closing the frame with a 25-18 victory. Despite Montreat's efforts to regain control, including a point from Sophie Duckworth, Pikeville's steady performance secured the upper hand.
 
UPIKE's strong start to the third set put the Cavs in an early bind, trailing 4-0 just moments into the frame. The hosts then initiated a comeback with Leatherman and Anderson delivering key kills, bringing the score to 9-8. Pikeville called a timeout in an attempt to slow the Cavaliers, but a trio of consecutive kills from Livingston, Hernandez and Ruthann Stout leveled the score at 11-11.
 
Midway through the set, Montreat continued to press, with Taylor Shaw providing key assists, allowing the hosts to knot things up at 16 apiece. The Bears briefly regained the lead, but the Cavs responded with four straight points, including kills from Hernandez and Livingston, to bring the score to a tense 24-24. Montreat kept its composure in the closing moments, with Hernandez securing additional crucial points, leading to a narrow 29-27 set victory.
 
Anderson set up Hernandez for a strong kill to kick off the fourth frame, establishing the tone early. Harrington and Leatherman contributed kills as well, pushing the home side out to a 5-2 lead. However, Pikeville answered, capitalizing on attack errors to draw even at 8-8.
 
The Bears then seized momentum with a 6-0 spurt, pulling ahead 14-8. Montreat called a timeout to regroup but faced difficulties in bridging the gap. Maggie Stewart managed a kill to break UPIKE's scoring streak, but the visitors continued to extend their lead with five unanswered points.
 
Despite the Cavs' valiant efforts, which included a late kill by Leatherman, the Bears finished the set with a 25-13 win, sealing the match.
 
On the day, the visitors accumulated more kills (53-47), assists (48-44), digs (91-81), blocks (10-2) and service aces (6-2) than their counterparts. UPIKE also concluded the contest with a higher hitting percentage (.239 to .077).
 
A number of Cavaliers registered noteworthy career-highs throughout the match. Leatherman paced the squad with a career-best 15 kills and an efficient .250 hitting percentage. Hernandez totaled 11 kills and 15 digs, both personal-best marks to grab her first double-double as a Cav. Griffin and Shaw racked up career-highs in assists with 19 and 16, respectively. Anderson and Isabella Farmer did the same with 18 and 14 digs, respectively. Griffin also tracked down 10 digs for her second double-double of the campaign.

"We've been building day by day, and today it showed," said head coach Cristina Viera. "Closing a set was another step in the right direction for this group. We'll keep focusing on our side, trusting the process and letting the work speak for itself."
 
The next challenge for the Cavaliers awaits at ACA Gymnasium in Swannanoa, N.C., where they will face Truett McConnell University. First serve is set for Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m.