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Senior captain Megan Smith posted a double-double with 19 kills and 17 digs to lead the High Point University volleyball team to a 3-1 win over UNC Wilmington in the season opener at the Millis Center.

“The first game of the season always turns in to who wants it more,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Both teams made a lot of individual mistakes and luckily we were able to get it together and force them to make more mistakes than us in the first and fourth sets. We showed great energy and focus and I couldn't be more proud of how we came together as a team tonight.”

Sophomore Stephanie Kaminskas put up 38 assists in the first game of the season and senior Audie Gonzalez had eight kills and 16 digs in her first game back after a redshirt season to help HPU to the 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-17) win in the second game of the HPU Classic.

Smith had seven of HPU's 12 kills and sophomore Breanna Holliday was solid defensively with five digs in the first set to lift HPU to a 25-19 set win. UNC Wilmington had ten kills in the frame but HPU forced 10 Seahawk errors to give UNCW a .000 attack percentage for the set.

While both teams made 11 attack errors in the second set, UNC Wilmington managed eight kills, three by Emily Mohrman, to win the frame 25-20.

The third set was tied as late as 20-20 when Oliver called a High Point timeout. UNCW's Jennifer Mallard had a service error after the break and Smith had back-to-back kills to put High Point ahead 23-20. The teams traded points to a 24-21 set point situation before Smith put down her 15th kill of the match to secure the 25-21 win and a two set advantage.

The Seahawks kept the fourth set close, tying the score at 13-13 before a 9-1 run gave High Point a 21-14 advantage. Smith, Michelle Chakirelis and Courtney Johnk all had kills late in the set and another UNC Wilmington attack error sealed the match for High Point, 25-17.

Smiths double-double is the thirteenth of her High Point career.

“I felt really good out there tonight, very comfortable,” Smith said. “We have all been working hard throughout preseason and we were ready to go. We came out with energy and were ready to perform. We need to stay focused tomorrow and control the ball on our side.”

Senior captain Julie Hershkowitz had a match-high 19 digs in the match and Chakirelis had four kills and two blocks in her collegiate debut.

The HPU Classic continues Saturday, beginning at 11:30 with a match between Appalachian State and UNC Wilmington. HPU will face North Carolina A&T at 1:30 p.m. and Appalachian State at 7 p.m.