Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University volleyball team got its first Big South Conference win of the season at Gardner-Webb Saturday at the Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Panthers swept the Lady Bulldogs 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-21). GWU nearly made a comeback in the third set, tying the score as late as 21-21 but High Point remained in control, earning the first Big South win of 2009.

“It feels good to get first win in conference and it feels even better to get the first road win,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “It was nice to see that we can still have focus and determination through adversity and get a good result. We need to continue this and perform well at home and defend our home court.”

Megan Smith (Bellbrook, Ohio, Bellbrook) led all attackers with 11 kills and Megan Kaminskas (Flagstaff, Ariz., Flagstaff), Anna Lott (Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Northeast) and Stephanie Wallin (Plymouth, Minn., Robbinsdale Armstrong) each contributed nine kills. Wallin also put up two solo blocks and one assisted block.

The Panthers took their first lead of the match at 9-8 in the first set on a service ace by Julie Hershkowitz (Scottsdale, Ariz., Seton Catholic). HPU would extend the lead to 12-8 with another ace by Hershkowitz and a kill and a block by Megan Kaminskas. The Lady Bulldogs kept High Point's lead small until a huge cross court kill from Lott put HPU up 21-16 and gave the Panthers control of the rest of the frame. Kaminskas and Wallin put up a block on the final point to give HPU a 1-0 set advantage and the 25-19 set win. Kaminskas, Lott and Smith each had four kills in the set.

The Panthers jumped out to a 17-13 lead on a kill by Smith made possible by a diving dig from Lyndsay Rowley (New Albany, Ohio, New Albany). High Point remained in control of the match working the lead to 21-15 on a block by Courtney Johnk (Larkspur, Calif., Redwood), forcing Gardner-Webb to use their final timeout. Johnk kept up her aggressive play after the break, putting down two more kills to help HPU to the 25-16 set win. Hershkowitz came up with 12 digs in the set and Wallin, Lott and Johnk all put up solo blocks.

Gardner-Webb came out with energy in the third set, taking a 10-6 lead after scoring five straight points. With Wallin at the service line the Panthers down 11-15, HPU went on a 5-0 run to take a 16-15 lead. The Lady Bulldogs kept it close, tying the score as late as 21-21 but the Panthers kept their composure and took the set 25-21 with Wallin putting down her ninth kill of the match for the 25th point.

High Point (11-11, 1-5 BSC) returns home after five games on the road Tuesday for a match with Liberty at 7 p.m. in the Millis Center.