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The High Point University volleyball team spoiled Presbyterian College senior night with a 3-0 sweep of the Blue Hose Friday in Clinton, S.C. The Panthers won the match 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) to improve to 16-12 (11-3 Big South).

Senior Megan Smith had 13 kills and Audie Gonzalez added 11 while senior libero Julie Hershkowitz had 12 digs in the road victory.

“Our focus was the difference in tonights match,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Our focus trumped the emotion of Presbyterian College's senior night and the energy of a packed gym who came out to support PC's talented senior class. If we play with that focus for the next month we can come away with a Big South Championship.”

Stephanie Wallin and Maddie Simpson put up back-to-back blocks to give HPU an early 5-2 lead. The Panthers extended the lead to 7-3, forcing a Blue Hose time out. High Point extended its lead to 12-6 after the break before a Presbyterian run brought the Blue Hose within two of HPU at 13-11. A Blue Hose service error, followed by a Hershkowitz service ace gave HPU back the momentum and they rolled to a 25-19 win. The Panthers had five total blocks in the set, four assisted by Simpson.

It was at the same 13-11 score that Presbyterian made a run at an early HPU lead before the Panthers took control in the second set. Michelle Chakirelis had the kill to put HPU on top 14-11 and close out the Blue Hose. HPU won the set 15-17. Gonzalez put down six kills in the set and Wallin added four to lead HPU to a .333 attack percentage in the frame.

Presbyterian College did not quit in the third set, taking its first lead of the match at 4-3. The match would have seven ties before Oliver used his first timeout of the night. Wallin and Smith put down back-to-back kills after the break to give the Panthers and 16-15 lead. Again the Blue Hose tried to keep the match alive, knotting the score at 21-21 by forcing three straight HPU errors. The Panthers would not allow another Blue Hose point, winning the set 25-21.

Simpson finished the night with 32 assists and five blocks and Wallin had a seven-kill, five-block performance.

The Panthers will play its final Big South road game on Saturday at Gardner-Webb. The match will begin at 2 p.m.