In a battle of unbeatens the High Point University volleyball team defeated Liberty 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-13) to take outright first place in the Big South Conference on Tuesday night in the Vines Center. With the win Head Coach Chad Esposito earned his 250th career victory on his birthday. HPU improves to 19-3 overall and 7-0 in League play while LU falls to 15-6 and 6-1.
Senior Ashley Mellott led the Panthers with 20 kills while sophomore Stephanie Wallin added 15. Kristina Taylor had 48 assists and 13 digs to record a double-double.Taylor hit a milestone with her 3,500 career assist. Julie Hershkowitz had 21 digs on the defensive side.
For the Flames Nicki Scripko led a quartet of attackers in double figures. Scripko tallied 26 kills and 16 digs. Ashley Webber and Jessica Nelson added 11 kills and Chelaine McCarty had 10. Kallie Corbin recorded 60 assists and 15 digs.
The opening set was a battle between the two teams with 17 ties and seven lead changes. The final tie of the set came at 23. A kill from Lindsay Raus followed by an attack error by LU gave HPU the 1-0 advantage in the match.
High Point and Liberty opened up the second set trading points and were tied at eight. Scripko went on a service run that included three aces for the Lady Flames to give LU the 12-8 lead. HPU came back to pull within one at 12-13, but the Panthers were unable to take the lead on the next rally. Liberty held onto the lead to close out the set and even the match at one each.
In the third frame LU and HPU traded points to open the set, but Liberty went on a run to take a five point lead at 14-9. The Panthers responded though to cut the lead to one at 16-15. Liberty got the ball back on the next rally and took a 20-16 lead. High Point again answered with a 7-3 run to tie the set at 23. The two teams would again tie at 24, but the Lady Flames scored the final two to take the advantage in the match.
High Point took an early lead in the fourth set and was up 10-6. The Lady Flames came back to tie the set at 12, but HPU responded with a short run to go back on top at the 16-14 mark. The two teams tied again at 20 and 21, but the Panthers outscored the Flames 4-1 to close out the set and knot the match at two sets each.
In the fifth set HPU came out on fire and took a quick 5-1 lead. The Flames fought back and tied the set at six. The two teams traded points over the next several points as there were four more ties until the Panthers broke open the scoring to take a 12-9 lead off a block assist between Wallin and Anna Lott. The Flames threatened and pulled within one at 14-13, but a service error by the Flames gave the Panthers the final point to take the match.
"This team continues to amaze me with what we have been able to accomplish and overcome," said Esposito." They had a great atmosphere in here for their 'Dig Pink Night' and for us to be able to comeback in the Vines Center after being down 2-1 is a great accomplishment. Defensively, we were able to come up with some great plays down the stretch. Ashley Mellott and Stephanie Wallin gave us a lead that we were able to sustain in the fifth with our offense. This is one of the best birthday gifts that the team could have given me."
High Point will be back on the court on Friday, Oct. 17 when they travel to Gardner-Webb for a 7:00 p.m. match.
