High Point took the opening game, but UNC Asheville rallied to edge the Panthers by two points in each of the final three frames and claim a 3-1 win (21-30, 30-28, 32-30, 31-29) in Big South Conference volleyball action Tuesday night at the Justice Center.

The Panthers drop to 17-16 (5-8 in Big South play), while the homestanding Bulldogs improve to 18-15 and 7-5 in the League. 

Jamie Kaufman collected a match-high 22 kills and six aces, while Kim Anderson notched 25 digs to surpass the 1,000-dig mark for her career and increase her streak of consecutive 10-plus dig matches to 37 straight.

Michelle Feiser recorded her 17th double-double of the season (45 assists, 15 digs) and added eight kills to finish just two kills shy of a triple-double. Lindsey Pickens (19 kills, 12 digs) also had a double-double, while Ashley Johnson added 12 kills on a team-best .312 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Jenelle Stouffer (15 digs) and Whitney Kaltenegger (13 digs) each reached double-figures.

Elif Unlu (15 kills, 20 digs), Talia Ogle (12 kills, 19 digs) and Amanda Wiles (43 assists, 14 digs) all recorded double-doubles for the Bulldogs.

"The difference tonight was a matter of a few points and a few errors right at the end of games," HPU head coach Chad Esposito said. "We're disappointed with the outcome, but pleased with the effort. We played with a lot of hustle and heart, and with a high level of intensity in a hostile environment.

"We hung in there as a team and played great defense, blocked well, served well and were solid on offense. "We had game points or leads in all four games, and what seperated the two teams tonight was a lack of finish on our part."

HPU used a pair of big runs to take the opening game, 30-21. Kaufman had nine kills in the opening game. As a team, the Panthers hit .263 in game one.

The Bulldogs led the second game 12-5 and 24-16 before the Panthers went on an 11-0 run behind the serving of Pickens. HPU led 27-24, but UNCA answered the run with five straight points off Unlu's serve which included a block assist by Allison Lambert and Rory Kelly that gave the Bulldogs back the lead at 28-27. A kill by Lambert gave UNCA game point and a HPU service error evened the match at a game apiece.

Asheville survived two game points in the third game after HPU led 29-28 and 31-30, but back-to-back hitting errors at 30-30 gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead in the match.

High Point jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the fourth game as Kaufman ran off nine straight points from the service line. UNCA battled back to tie the game at 16. The two teams played sideout ball for the next 26 points as the game was still tied at 29. A kill by Olge gave the Bulldogs match point at 30-29 and on the ensuing rally, Wiles found open court to end the match and give UNCA the 3-1 victory.

It was the second meeting in seven days between the teams. UNCA claimed a 3-2 win in High Point on Nov. 2.

HPU finishes the regular season at Winthrop on Saturday at 7:00 pm before beginning Big South Tournament play on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at a site to be determined.