Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team improved to 8-5 with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 26-24) sweep of ACC-opponent NC State at the UNC Greensboro Tournament Friday. Junior outside hitter Megan Smith (Bellbrook, Ohio, Bellbrook) posted 15 kills and junior middle blocker Stephanie Wallin (Plymouth, Minn., Robbinsdale Armstrong) had 11kills in the win.

"We've been waiting for this match because we actually showed a consistency in our focus," said head coach Jason Oliver. "We've been showing it in practice but it was good to see it happen in a match, especially against an ACC opponent. Megan Smith had a great match and Wallin had another good attacking match. I'm happy to see them be consistent. Even with the changes we made late in the match, inserting Courtney and Tara, our intensity didn't change."

Smith got HPU off to a good start with a kill and back-to-back service aces to give the Panthers a quick 3-0 lead in the first set. The Panthers took a six-point lead at 20-14, on a kill by Megan Kaminskas (Flagstaff, Ariz., Flagstaff) on an over ball from NC State, forcing a Wolfpack timeout. HPU extended the lead out of the timeout by as many as eight points at 24-16 on a kill by Molly Barlow (Phoenix, Ariz., Seton Catholic). NC State fought off three set points Wallin put down her second kill of the set to win the frame 25-18. The Panthers hit .316 in the set.

The second set was a much tighter battle. The Wolfpack kept the lead through the early part of the frame but HPU kept it close, never falling more than two points behind. Oliver called a timeout with the Panthers down 12-13 and the Panthers rallied after the break. Anna Lott (Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Northeast)and Smith had kills and Holly Fong (Sebastopol, Calif., El Molino) and Lott put up a block giving HPU a 16-14 lead. High Point would keep the lead until NC State tied it at 23-23. A kill from Barlow put HPU back up 24-23 and Lott put the set away with her sixth kill of the match.

Oliver altered his lineup for the third set, inserting freshman outside hitter Courtney Johnk (Larkspur, Calif., Redwood) and senior defensive specialist Tara Dyer (Fountain Hills, Ariz., Fountain Hills) in to the starting rotation. Johnk put down six kills in the set and Smith added seven to give HPU the 26-24 set win. Dyer had three digs in the set.

Fong had 42 assists and junior captain Julie Hershkowitz (Scottsdale, Ariz., Seton Catholic) had 25 digs in the match.

The Panthers are back in action Saturday for day two of the UNC Greensboro Tournament. HPU will face La Salle at 10 a.m. and Georgetown at 5 p.m. Georgetown swept La Salle 3-0 in the opening match of the tournament Friday.