Box Score Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team picked up a 3-1 win at Coastal Carolina on Friday to move to 12-10 (7-1 Big South) for the season. HPU handed the Chanticleers their first home loss of the season with the 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-17) win.

Seniors Megan Smith and Stephanie Wallin had 15 and 12 kills, respectively and classmate Julie Hershkowitz had a match-high 18 digs. Audie Gonzalez added 10 kills and 15 digs as well as five service aces.

High Point had 14 aces as a team and hit over .400 in the first two sets led by Smith who hit .378 for the day with seven aces and six digs.

“This was an important win over a good Coastal Carolina team,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Coastal is very good at home and this result says a lot about our work ethic and dedication. The three senior captains had a great match. This shows that we are a team deserving of being at the top of the conference.”

After winning the first two sets, HPU dropped a close 25-23 third frame. The Panthers bounced back to win the final set 25-17.

After a brief tie at 1-1 the Panthers led the entire first set. High Point put down 13 kills without an error in the frame, adding five service aces. HPU hit .419, led by Smith's five kills. Smith's biggest kill of the set gave High Point a 22-17 lead on a play that Coastal kept alive on five HPU attack attempts. The Panthers carried the momentum of that point to a 25-17 set win.

The Panthers jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second set with Smith at the service line. She had three aces in the run giving High Point a lead they would not relinquish on the way to a 25-19 win. HPU hit .412 in the set and came up with 17 digs.

The Chanticleers led by as much as seven in the third set, jumping out to a 14-7 lead. High Point battled back in the set, coming within two points at 19-17 on a kill by Smith that forced a Coastal Carolina timeout. Hershkowitz served two straight service aces out of the break to knot the score at 19-19. The Panthers held the lead at 23-22 but the Chanticleers went on the final run, winning the set 25-23 and keeping the match alive.

The Panthers took a 10-2 lead in the final frame and held off the Chanticleers on the way to a 25-17 win. Smith and Wallin each had three kills in the set.

Maddie Simpson finished with 45 assists and 11 digs and Michelle Chakirelis added seven kills and two blocks.

The Panthers begin the second run through Big South play on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. match at Liberty. Liberty beat HPU 3-0 at the Millis Center earlier this season in the Panthers only Big South loss this year.