The High Point University volleyball team played to a 1-2 record over the weekend at the East Carolina Classic after dropping two matches on Saturday. High Point finished third at the tournament.

HPU fell to East Tennessee State 2-3 (25-27, 25-14, 25-17, 19-25, 13-15) in the first game before falling to host team East Carolina 3-0 (21-25, 21-25, 18-25) in the final game of the evening.

"Overall we played very well as a team this weekend," said head coach Chad Esposito. "We've got a lot we need to work on, but we also have a lot of momentum we can build off of as we move forward with the season. It was a great effort by all of our players this weekend as we are really starting to put some things together."

In the first match of the day Ashley Mellott had 13 kills to lead the Panthers while Lindsay Raus added 10. Kristina Taylor had a double-double with 43 assists and 12 digs while Julie Hershkowitz led with 20 digs. Against East Carolina Stephanie Wallin led with 13 kills. Taylor had 33 assists while Herskowitz recorded 17 digs.

ETSU was led by Amanda Youell who recorded a triple-double with 13 kills, 18 assists and 13 digs. East Carolina was led by Erica Banning and Katie Prast with 11 kills each. Prast added 13 digs for a double-double while Hannah Fenker had 35 assists.

The Panthers controlled much of the first set, holding a 24-18 lead before Courtney Cotter went on an eight serve run to help the Buccaneers close out the set with a 9-1 run to take the 1-0 advantage in the match. High Point rallied to dominate the second set to even up the match at one set each.

In the third set the Panthers led, but ETSU closed the gap to one at 11-10. Raus would respond with five straight serves to put High Point up 16-11. The Panthers secured the 2-1 match advantage by outscoring the Bucs 9-5.

The two teams were knotted at nine in the fourth frame before Jen Niece went on an eight serve run to put the Bucs up 17-10. High Point pulled as close as 18-21, but were unable to get any closer as ETSU held on to tie the match at two sets each.

In the final set High Point held an 11-8 lead off a kill from Audie Gonzalez, but ETSU would go on a 7-2 scoring run to close out the set and take the match victory.

"It was a tough loss against ETSU, we really let game one go and just couldn't get that last side out," Esposito said. "It was really frustrating from that stand point, but the team responded really well in the face of adversity to take sets two and three. Unfortunately we let them get a little momentum in game four. We played a very tight fifth game and it really could have gone either way, but we just couldn't finish it off in the end."

In the first frame against ECU, the Panthers pulled as close as 9-11 early in the set, but were unable to take the lead. High Point would again close the gap at 21-24, but an attack error by the Panthers would give the Pirates the 1-0 advantage in the match.

High Point kept the second set close as they pulled to a 9-9 tie with the Pirates before Fenker served five straight to put ECU up 14-9. The Panthers again knotted the score at 17 off a kill from Raus, but HPU was unable to overcome the gap as ECU went on to take the 2-0 match lead.

In the final set ECU jumped out to an early 5-0 lead. The Pirates held a 13-8 lead before HPU's Lyndsay Rowley and Herschkowitz combined for eight serves to pull the Panthers to close the gap at 14-16. ECU went on to outscore HPU 9-4 for the match victory.

"We played a very good East Carolina squad this evening," said Esposito. "We were really in that match and just couldn't get it done. We would let it get away from us in the last few points of each set."

Taylor earned a spot on the ECU Classic All-Tournament team after consistent play throughout the weekend.

"Taylor was one of our most consistent players all weekend," commented Esposito. "She made some great judgment calls running our offense and from a setting standpoint."

The Panthers will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 2 as they open the home schedule, hosting Campbell University at 7:00 in the Millis Center.

Game One's Box Score can be found under Box Score at top of the page. Game Two's Box Score is under Game Notes.