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Senior libero Julie Hershkowitz became just the third player in Big South Conference history to reach the 2,000 dig mark in HPU's 3-2 win at Winthrop on Friday. The High Point University volleyball team topped the Eagles 3-2 (30-28, 21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-11) at the Winthrop Coliseum, beating the Eagles in the Big South Conference opener.

“It is a tremendous honor to reach 2,000 digs,” Hershkowitz said. “It means even more to reach the milestone in a great team win over Winthrop. I am very lucky to have played four years for great coaches and with great teammates and I wouldn't have had any success without them.”

Senior captains Megan Smith and Audie Gonzalez each posted double-doubles and freshman setter Maddie Simpson put up 61 assists in the win. Smith finished with a match-high 22 kills and 15 digs while Gonzalez finished with 18 kills and 16 digs.

Courtney Johnk tied the fifth set 10-10 with a kill and HPU took an 11-10 lead when Johnk came up with a dig that found the court on Winthrop's side for a Panther point. The Eagles were able to sideout on a kill by Kaley Viola but Johnk answered back with her third kill in as many points to give HPU a 13-11 lead. Winthrop committed an attack error and Smith sealed the match with a kill, 15-11.

“This was a hard, tough-nose match from beginning to end,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Both teams battled for every point. Road wins in Big South games are going to be tough to come by and a win over Winthrop is especially important because we will be back here for the conference tournament. The three senior captains, Julie, Audie and Megan really carried us through tonight. They remained focused and showed incredible leadership.”
 
HPU was down 21-24 in the first set, but fought off three Winthrop set points before a kill by Gonzalez put the Panthers ahead 25-24. The set continued, with the score tied three more times. Smith put down her sixth kill of the frame to give HPU the 29-28 lead before a Winthrop attack error sealed the set for HPU 30-28.

Winthrop came back in the second set with a 25-21 win. The Eagles committed six less errors in the set and outhit the Panthers .179 to .040. After an early 9-15 deficit the Panthers tied the set 20-20 on a Winthrop attack error. Winthrop finished the set strong, with a 5-1 run, capitalizing on three HPU errors.

The Eagles defense came up with 18 digs, keeping HPU's offense from getting in a rhythm as Winthrop won the third set 25-16. The Eagles took the lead at 8-7 and controlled the rest of the frame, adding four blocks to their defensive effort.

The Panthers opened the fourth set with three straight blocks, all involving Michelle Chakirelis, as HPU took a 3-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Panthers lead was as large as six at 12-6 on Chakirelis' fourth block of the set. Smith had four kills in the set and Johnk and Gonzalez added three each helping HPU hit .294 for the frame.

Hershkowitz became HPU's career digs leader last season and now has 2,027 career digs and has the third-most in Big South Conference history. She is just the third player in the Big South to reach the 2,000-dig mark and the first player to do it from a school other than UNC Asheville.

HPU (6-9, 1-0 Big South Conference) travels to Charleston Southern for a 4 p.m. match against the Buccaneers on Saturday.