Box Score Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team recorded its second 3-0 win of the weekend, sweeping Winthrop on Saturday at the Millis Center. Senior Megan Smith hit .463 with 22 kills to lead the Panthers to the 3-0 (25-12, 29-27, 25-18) victory.

With the win High Point moves to 14-11 (9-2 Big South) and remains in second place in the conference standings. Winthrop falls to 10-13 (7-4 Big South).

“Today's win is a huge step for the program,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Obviously, we have to defend our home court and do the right things to get wins. Today we did that. We handled our side of net and controlled the match from the first point to the last point. Megan Smith played unbelievably well with 22 kills. We beat a very tough Winthrop team.”

Senior Audie Gonzalez added 10 kills and 10 digs as well as a service ace and two blocks while freshman setter Maddie Simpson dished out 35 assists with two blocks. Six different Panthers had a service ace in the match with junior Breanna Holliday tallying two.

The Panthers dominated the first set, hitting .393 with only two attack errors. Smith and Gonzalez each had five kills, while Julie Hershkowitz came up with six digs. HPU won the frame 25-12, holding Winthrop to a -.083 attack percentage.

The Eagles battled back in the second set, forcing extra points before High Point pulled out the 29-27 win. Smith had 10 kills on 13 swings in the second set, including a kill to tie the match at 27-27. Winthrop had gone up 27-26 on a Carly DeBruhl service ace before Smith knotted the score at 27-27. Gonzalez followed with a kill of her own to set up HPU's set point and Winthrop's Kaley Viola made an attack error, securing the 29-27 win for the Panthers.

After a tie at 10-10 in the third set HPU pulled away from the Eagles for a 25-18 win. A kill by Smith gave HPU the 11-10 lead but it was HPU's 16-13 lead that gave the Panthers the momentum to finish the set. Sophomore Courtney Johnk came up with a diving dig that resulted in a kill for Michelle Chakirelis on a broken play. High Point fed off the play, rolling to a 25-18 set win.

Stephanie Wallin added six kills and three blocks and Johnk finished the day with three kills and four blocks. Hershkowitz recorded 20 digs for the day.

High Point travel to UNC Asheville on Friday for a 7 p.m. match and Winthrop will play at Coastal Carolina Tuesday at 7 p.m./