The High Point University volleyball team defeated Gardner-Webb, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21) on Friday evening to sweep the first half of the Big South schedule and improve to 8-0 in League play and 20-3 overall.
"I thought we came out with a lot of energy tonight which is especially important when playing on the road," said head coach Chad Esposito. "Our trip down was tough, traffic was bad and our girls really didn't get a chance to warm up beforehand. We had very limited warm-up time in all our matches in Greece this summer, so that helped us be ready to play since we had experienced it before. We were able to keep our composure."
Leading the Panthers was Lindsay Raus with 13 kills. Audie Gonzalez added nine. Kristina Taylor recorded 31 assists while Julie Hershokowitz tallied 14 digs. Anna Lott tied her career block number with seven.
For the Bulldogs, Laura Wilcox and Heidi Steinebrunner had 10 kills each. Regina Feagin had 32 assists in the match. Evan Moffitt and Katie Matykowski both notched 20 digs.
High Point and Gardner-Webb kept the score close in the opening rallies of the first set and were tied at 11 until Lauren Hatch went on an eight serve run, fueled by five kills from Raus, to put the Panthers up 19-11. GWU cut the lead to four at 19-15, but HPU closed out the set outscoring GWU 6-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
In the second set the Bulldogs took an early 7-4 lead. High Point responded with an 8-4 run to take the lead at 12-9 off a kill from Stephanie Wallin. GWU pulled back to within three at 23-20, but back-to-back kills from Wallin and Ashley Mellott on the final two rallies put HPU up 2-0 in the match.
Gardner-Webb and High Point kept the match close in the opening part of the third set and were tied at 11. The two teams again tied at 14, but Hershkowitz served nine straight to up the Panthers up 21-15. GWU threatened to rally, cutting the lead to 24-21, but a kill by Mellott on the final play secured the match for the Panthers.
"I thought that both of our middles played outstanding," said Esposito. "Anna Lott had a great blocking night and both of our middles carried us offensively tonight. It's nice to have the luxury where we can count on any player on any given night to step up for us."
High Point will return home for a pair of matches on Friday, Oct. 24 and Sat. Oct. 25. The Panthers will host Presbyterian and UNC Asheville, respectively.
