Box Score Box Score

The High Point University volleyball team beat the UNC Greensboro Spartans 3-1 Tuesday at Fleming Gymnasium. HPU's senior trio of Megan Smith, Stephanie Wallin and Julie Hershkowitz combined for 29 kills and 34 digs in the win.

“Megan, Stephanie and Julie played really well tonight,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “The seniors stepped up and showed the focus we ask of them every day. This was another championship effort from the team and we need that this time of year.”

Smith posted a double-double with a match-high 17 kills and 12 digs while Wallin hit .524 with 12 kills. Hershkowitz came up with 21 digs for the night and freshman setter Maddie Simpson dished out 43 assists.

The Panthers improve to 18-12 (12-3 Big South Conference) with the 3-1 (25-18, 25-7, 22-25, 25-20) win.

After trailing in 10-9 in the first set, High Point took a 17-12 lead and forced a UNCG timeout. On the play before the break Courtney Johnk put up a solo block on an Ariel Newman attack. The Spartans kept the ball alive setting Newman again but she hit the ball over Johnk's block and out of bounds for a 17-12 HPU advantage. The Panthers went on to win the set 25-18, scoring the final point on an attack error by UNCG's Karrian Chambers who also hit the ball out of bounds to avoid Johnk's block. Johnk, Smith and Wallin each recorded three kills in the set.

The Panthers took a 15-7 lead halfway through the second set, capitalizing on eight Spartan errors. High Point had scored three straight points to take the 15-7 lead, forcing UNCG to use its second timeout of the set. After the break Audie Gonzalez went back to the service line and HPU didn't allow another Spartan point, winning the set 25-7. The Panthers scored the final 13 points of the frame. High Point outhit UNC Greensboro .381 to -.121 in the set. Wallin put down a perfect five kills on five swings and added two blocks.

The Spartans didn't back down in the third set. With the score tied 20-20 Caley Redden put down a kill to give UNCG a 21-20. Each time HPU tied the score she put down a kill to give the Spartans leads at 22-21 and 23-22. Newman put down her seventh kill of the match to give Greensboro set point and the Spartans sent the ball right back to Redden who tallied her sixth kill of the set and tenth of the match for the 25-22 set win.

UNC Greensboro carried the momentum in to the fourth set, taking an 8-6 lead. A pair of UNCG errors tied the set at 8-8 and a service ace by Gonzalez gave HPU the 9-8 lead. The Spartans made multiple runs at High Point's lead but the Panthers pulled out the big plays to hold off UNCG. Johnk and Michelle Chakirelis put up a block at 16-12 and Smith had a monster kill down the line to secure a 24-20 lead. Chakirelis followed it with a solo block to win the set 25-20.

Gonzalez finished the night with seven kills, four aces and eight digs. Chakirelis added six kills and three blocks.

High Point will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a 2 p.m. match against Coastal Carolina. The Panthers beat Coastal 3-1 in Conway, S.C. on Oct. 15. 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.

Seniors Julie Hershkowitz, Audie Gonzalez, Megan Smith, Anna Lott and Stephanie Wallin will be honored before Saturday's match.