Box Score Box Score

After dropping the first two sets the High Point University volleyball team rallied to win the third set but couldn't hold on to a lead late in the fourth, falling to the Liberty Flames 3-1 Tuesday at the Vines Center. The Panthers hit negative in the first two sets, fighting back to win the third, but couldn't hold off the first-place Flames in the 3-1 (15-25, 14-25, 25-19, 22-25) loss.

“Liberty played a phenomenal game,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “They came out to win. I was pleased that we responded in the third set but we should play like that all the time. Liberty still hasn't seen our best volleyball.”

Senior Megan Smith led HPU with 16 kills and freshman setter Maddie Simpson dished out 36 assists in the loss. The Panthers drop to 12-11 (7-2 Big South Conference) while Liberty improves to 17-7 (8-1 Big South Conference).

After, losing sets one and two the Panthers rebounded with a 25-19 win in the third set. High Point led by as much as nine in the third set at 18-9 on a service error by LU's Hannah Anderson. The Flames fought back in the match, even fighting off three set HPU set points before Smith ended the set with her fifth kill in the frame. Stephanie Wallin also had five kills in the set, along with two blocks.

High Point led as late as 19-18 in the fourth set but Liberty took the lead back, 21-20 on a kill by Lillie Happel. The Flames would win the set 25-22. Smith had six kills in the final set.

In the first set Audie Gonzalez had five kills and Smith had three before any other Panther was able to register a kill. Wallin got on the board with a kill but HPU was down 19-14 at the time and wouldn't overcome the deficit, dropping the set 25-15. The Lady Flames outhit HPU .520 to -.033.

Liberty maintained the momentum in the second set, rolling to a 25-14 win and setting HPU back two sets to none. The Panthers had seven kills and seven errors in the second set while the Flames hit .500. Liberty's Kendle Rollins hit .600 with four kills and two blocks in the frame.

Gonzalez finished the night with 11 kills and Wallin added eight kills and three blocks.

High Point returns home on Friday to face Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. The Panthers beat CSU, 3-1, in Charleston, S.C. on Sept. 25.