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High Point University swept Georgia State 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-23) to improve to 2-1 in its first game of the day on Saturday. The Panthers were led by junior transfer Megan Smith who posted a match-high 15 kills. Sophomore setter Holly Fong had a match-high 26 assists and scored all three set-winning points for the Panthers.

"I'm very pleased with how we came out this morning," said head coach Jason Oliver. "We played with intensity I hadn't seen us compete with. I've seen it in practice so it was good to see it translate to a game. We kept it together under pressure better than yesterday so we are clearly making strides. The overall team effort was very good. We understood the game plan and executed."

High Point and Georgia State played an evenly matched first set until back-to-back service aces from junior middle hitter Anna Lott gave HPU a four-point lead at 10-6. HPU continued to pull away and a kill from freshman outside hitter Molly Barlow gave High Point a 17-12 advantage that forced a GSU timeout. HPU kept the pressure up with a solo block by Lott to stretch the Panthers lead to 18-12. With her back to the net, Fong tipped the ball over for the kill and the set win, 25-15.

The teams kept it close in the second set with HPU taking a 20-14 lead before letting Georgia State back into it. Three straight errors allowed Georgia State within three at 20-17. High Point rallied with four straight points to force set point at 24-17. State battled off five set points before Fong again won the set 25-22 with a tip over for the kill.

In the third set High Point pulled out to a quick 10-3 lead but Georgia State battled back to tie the set at 19-19. The teams traded points, knotting the score at 20 and 21 before GSU took its first lead of the set at 22-21. A solo block by Lott tied the score at 22 and HPU took the lead back on a kill by Megan Kaminskas. High Point got kills from Megan Smith service ace by Fong to win the set 25-23 and the match, 3-0.

High Point is back in action at 3 p.m. when the Panthers take on UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks swept South Carolina State in their morning game to improve to 2-1 on the season.