The High Point University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches versus East Carolina and Appalachian State on Saturday in day two action of the Broyhill Inn Appalachian Classic.

With the losses, HPU slipped to 1-3 on the season. Appalachian State finished tied with East Carolina and Tennessee Tech in the event at 2-1 but captured the tournament crown having posted the best won-loss mark in games played.

Despite a quartet of players with double digit kills, the High Point volleyball team again came up on the short end of tough 3-1 (31-33, 27-30, 30-25, 17-30) loss to East Carolina in their opening match of the day.

The Panthers got balanced offense from its outside and middle hitters but could not keep the Pirates (2-2) from connecting at a .335 pace for the match. Sophomore Jamie Kaufman paced the HPU offense with season high 14 kills.

For the second straight match, HPU senior Michelle Feiser posted a triple-double finishing with 12 kills, 41 assists and 10 digs. Ashley Johnson chipped in 12 kills and Sabrina Wahid tallied 11. Johnson also finished with a team best .556 hitting percentage committing just two errors in 18 swings and three service aces. As a team, High Point hit a near season high .255 with freshman Kristina Taylor (19 assists) sharing the setting duties with Feiser.

"We played hard the entire match," said HPU head coach Chad Esposito. "We just couldn't seem to find a way to win the key points in those early games. Our offense was highly effective, but our biggest problem was our inability to sustain our discipline on defense."

Four Panthers also notched double digit digs in a strong defensive showing. Kaufman led the way with 11 followed by 10 each from Feiser, Jenelle Stouffer and Taylor. Feiser's three blocks marked the top front row performance for HPU.

ECU's Erica Wilson led all players with 23 kills and was joined in double digits by teammates Pam Ferris (16) and Kim Jefferson (14). Johanna Bertini finished with a match best 21 digs to anchor the Pirate defense.

Against event host Appalachian State in the final match of the day, High Point struggled to find a consistent offense dropping a 3-0 (18-30, 21-30, 16-30) decision to ASU.

Feiser, who was selected to the All-Tournament squad, just missed earning her third triple-double of the weekend finishing with eight kills, 12 assists and nine digs. Jenelle Stouffer continued her strong defensive play for the Panthers posting a team best 12 digs in the contest.

Appalachian State (4-1), the champions of the Broyhill Inn Appalachian Classic, capitalized on HPU hitting miscues throughout the match to earn the three-game sweep. For the match, High Point connected for a season low .046 hitting percentage with 25 hitting errors while ASU hit at a .345 clip including a .600 performance in the final game.

One bright spot on offense for the Panthers was the play of Ashley Johnson, who hit .500 for the match collecting six kills on 12 attempts with no errors.

High Point returns home for their next match when the Panthers welcome Triad-rival UNC Greensboro to the Millis Athletic Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m.