Box Score Box Score
The High Point University volleyball team dropped the season opener to tournament host, North Carolina Central 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 25-27, 12-15). Junior outside hitter
Megan Smith led the Panther's attack with 23 kills and a .500 attack percentage but the Eagles outhit HPU .296 to .138 in the fifth set to win the match.
The Panthers took game one from NCC, 25-17. Sophomore setter
Holly Fong started the game with a service ace and had two consecutive kills to give HPU the 13-7 lead and force a timeout from NCC. The Eagles fought off four set points before
Anna Lott got the kill to win the first set. Smith had three service aces in the set.
NCC came out strong in game two, taking an early lead before High Point was able to tie it up at 10 and a kill by Smith gave the Panthers an 11-10 lead. Junior middle blocker Sashalee Wallin hit .571 for NCC and the Eagles edged HPU 25-22.
NCC again took an early lead in set three, taking a 10-8 advantage. Smith served three straight points to give High Point a 13-12 lead and force an NCC timeout. With an 18-17 lead the Panthers were penalized for being out of rotation, which tied the score at 18. HPU rallied after the error to take a 24-20 lead.
Anna Lott's service ace gave High Point the win and a 2-1 match advantage. The Panthers outhit the Eagles .259 to .000 in the third set.
Down 8-3 in game four, HPU scored seven straight points with freshman outside hitter
Molly Barlow at the service line to take a 10-8 lead. The Eagles rallied after a timeout and the teams battled to a tie at 23. A kill by Wallin fought off an Eagles game point and the Panthers took a 25-24 advantage on an NCC blocking error. However, the Eagles got three straight kills to win 27-25 and force a fifth set.
Down 14-12 in the fifth set, senior outside hitter
Megan Kaminskas was called for a net error, giving Central the set and match win.
Fong had 44 assists in the match and junior captain
Julie Hershkowitz led the Panther defense with 24 digs.
High Point faces The Citadel next in the North Carolina Central Tournament. The Bulldogs lost their first game of the tournament to Georgia State, 3-0.
