Box Score Box Score

After going down two games, HPU battled back to win the third set but couldn't complete the comeback falling 1-3 (24-26, 20-25, 25-17, 21-25) to Utah Valley in the final game of the ASU Sheraton Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. Senior Megan Smith led the High Point University volleyball team with 21 kills and freshman Maddie Simpson had 50 assissts, four kills and six digs.

“Utah Valley was more consistent than we were today,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “When they needed it they were able to get the big kills and organize the big plays. I was proud of our effort today, we had more digs, more kills, more assists than they did but they were just able to get the final points.”

The Wolverines needed extra points to top HPU in the first set. The Panthers led 24-23 on a kill by Smith but UVU answered with a kill by Kayli Doxey to even the score. An HPU attack error and a service ace by Kathleen Stevens gave Utah Valley the 26-24 set win.

High Point hit .303 in the second set, with 13 kills and only three errors but Utah Valley hit just slightly higher, .306, and won the set 25-20. Simpson had nine assists and three kills in the set.

The Panthers won the third set with a .378 attack percentage and seven kills from Smith. Courtney Johnk added four kills in the frame including two in the last five points. HPU led by as many as seven in the third set, as 20-13 on a block by Smith and Michelle Chakirelis. HPU won the set 25-17 with Audie Gonzalez putting down the final kill.

Utah Valley took a 19-13 lead in the fourth set but the Panthers battled back, scoring five straight points with Gonzalez at the service line to close the lead to 19-17 and force a Utah Valley timeout. The Wolverines closed out the match after the break, winning the set 25-21.

Senior libero Julie Hershkowitz had 19 digs in the match and now need just eight to pass Coastal Carolina's Jeanne Lambert for third all-time in the Big South.

The Panthers return to the Millis Center Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match against Campbell. Last season HPU beat the Camels 3-2 with 14 kills from Courtney Johnk.