Box Score

High Point University overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Charleston Southern, 3-2, in Big South Conference volleyball action on Saturday night at the CSU field house.

 

With the victory, High Point improves to 12-10 overall and 3-4 in the Big South while CSU falls to 8-11 overall and 2-4 in the Big South.

 

Sophomore Jamie Kaufman led the Panthers attack finishing with her first "20-20" performance of the season tallying 20 kills and 21 digs. Freshmen duo Lindsay Raus and Ashley Mellott added 15 kills each and senior Michelle Feiser recorded 11 kills. Feiser also chipped in 38 assists and 10 digs to earn her ninth triple-double of the year.

 

Senior libero Jenelle Stouffer paced the HPU passers with 22 digs in the match with Whitney Kaltenegger also reaching double digits with 14. Raus finished with five blocks to lead the frontline defense for the Panthers.

 

"I am extremely proud of how we played today," said HPU head coach Chad Esposito. "After falling behind early, we just kept fighting and refused to quit. We just continued to make plays and find a way to win. This was a huge step for this team and definitely a learning experience. This was a total team effort in all aspects of the game. It is always great to earn a victory on the road in conference play against a talented team."

 

CSU won game one easily, 30-22 and then held off a late HPU charge to win game two, 30-28. Trailing 25-18 in game three, the Panthers rallied to knot the score at 25 then scored the final three points to extend the match with a 30-27 win. High Point took an early 11-6 advantage in the fourth frame before seeing Charleston Southern roar back to even the score at 19. HPU answered with a 6-0 run and never looked back en route to another 30-27 win.

 

In the deciding fifth game, High Point grabbed an 8-3 lead then settled into a solid sideout routine to earn the 15-8 win.

 

Senior Tori Owens had 19 kills and 16 digs and senior Katie O'Riordan added 16 kills, 45 assists and 17 digs for CSU in the loss.

 

High Point continues its current two-week road trip on Monday night with a match at Savannah State (6 p.m.).