Box Score Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team dropped just its third Big South Conference match of the season on Friday, falling 3-1 at UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs kept HPU from ever getting in to an offensive rhythm, holding the Panthers to a .147 attack percentage in the 3-1 (20-25, 23-25 25-14, 19-25) loss.

High Point falls to 14-12(9-3 Big South) while UNCA improves to 14-10 (6-4 Big South).

Senior captain Megan Smith had 20 kills and 11 digs while Julie Hershkowitz came up with 30 digs in the match. Freshman setter Maddie Simpson had 47 assists and 17 digs.

The Panthers couldn't find any offensive rhythm in the first set, with Asheville winning 25-20. HPU made 11 attack errors in the first set, hitting just .064.

HPU went up 3-0 in the second on a kill by Courtney Johnk from Michelle Chakirelis after a dig by Simpson. HPU extended its lead to 10-5 before Asheville took back control on the match. The Bulldogs went on to take the lead at 19-18. Johnk was blocked to set up set point for Asheville. The Panthers fought off two set points before a kill by CIndi Miller gave Asheville the 25-23 win and sent HPU to the locker room down 2-0.

HPU's hitters found their rhythm in the third set, setting down 16 kills with only four errors for a .286 attack percentage and a 25-14 set win. Smith and Anna Lott each had five kills and Lott added two blocks, one solo. The Panthers led the entire set but really stretched the lead with a five point run from 12-8 to 17-8. Stephanie Wallin and Smith combined for five straight kills during the run.

The Panthers were down early in the fourth set. UNCA jumped out to a 9-2 lead and despite HPU's excellent hitting later in the set they could not overcome the seven point deficit. A kill by Simpson closed the gap to four at 17-22 but UNC Asheville put the set away 25-19.

Wallin and Audie Gonzalez each had 11 kills in the match and Gonzalez came up with 18 digs.

High Point will return home to the Millis Center on Tuesday, Nov. 2 for a 7 p.m. match against Radford. The Panthers won the first meeting with the Highlanders, 3-0, in Radford, Va. Simpson had a match-high 32 assists and Hershkowitz had 17 digs in the match. High Point combined for six service aces and seven blocks in the match.