Box Score Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team came from behind after dropping the first set to top UNC Greensboro 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 29-27, 23-25, 15-6). The Panthers improve to 7-5 on the season. Junior middle blocker Stephanie Wallin (Plymouth, Minn., Robbinsdale Armstrong) led the Panthers with 14 kills, six block assists and six digs. Junior captain Julie Hershkowitz (Scottsdale, Ariz., Seton Catholic) had a career high 48 digs in the match.

“It was one of those wins where we had players that hadn't stepped up before step up,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “I am really happy with the way Megan Kaminskas (Flagstaff, Ariz., Flagstaff) worked in transition and Stephanie Wallin had a great match. We played our style of volleyball the way we want to play it: hard-nosed, disciplined and focused. We earned every point.”

The Panthers dropped the first set 25-18 despite four kills and two blocks from Wallin. UNC Greensboro put up three blocks and held HPU to a .057 attack percentage. The Panthers were down 18-16 when Oliver called a timeout. Wallin had a kill out of the timeout but the Spartans scored seven of the next nine points to take the set.

High Point rebounded in the second set, hitting .273 to Greensboro's .216. Junior outside hitter Megan Smith (Bellbrook, Ohio, Bellbrook) had six kills in the set and a .625 attack percentage. The Panthers took an early lead but UNC Greensboro tied the set at 18-18. The teams traded points but HPU took the lead back at 23-21 on a UNCG service error. A kill from Smith and a service ace by sophomore setter Holly Fong (Sebastopol, Calif., El Molino) gave HPU the 25-21 set win and a 2-1 match advantage.

The Panthers needed extra points but they were able to top the Spartans 29-27 in the third set. Senior captain Megan Kaminskas had four kills and four different Panthers put up a block assist. Wallin and Smith added two kills each.

UNCG took set four 25-23. The teams had identical stat lines, with each squad posting 24 digs and 12 kills but the Spartan's four service aces were the difference in the set. Wallin, Smith and freshman outside hitter Molly Barlow (Phoenix, Ariz., Seton Catholic) had three kills each.

High Point rolled through the fifth set, taking a 15-6 set win and the match 3-2. Wallin added another three kills in the set and Fong had two service aces in the frame.

Fong finished the day with 41 assists, 15 digs and four service aces. Barlow totaled 10 kills and 15 digs and Smith posted 12 kills and 13 digs.

This weekend the Panthers will face NC State, La Salle and Georgetown at the UNC Greensboro Tournament. HPU will face NC State (6-5) at 12 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday the Panthers will take on La Salle (1-10) at 10 a.m. and Georgetown (5-5) at 4:30 p.m.