Box Score BOX SCORE

Despite a third-set win the High Point University volleyball team fell to Winthrop 3-1 (22-25, 16-25, 25-22, 12-25) Saturday at the Millis Center. With the loss HPU falls to 4-3 in Big South action.

“Winthrop is a very good team and came out with more energy and focus than we did,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “They are scrappy and physical and it is really the first time we have played a team with that style this year. It was a learning experience for us.”

Chelsea Davis, Michelle Chakirelis and Kristin Heldt each put up nine kills in the loss while Molly Barlow had a match-high 19 digs. The Eagles were led by Brittany Blackman who put down 13 kills.

The first set was tight until Winthrop pulled out a five-point advantage at 23-18 on a kill by Carolyn Weed. Weed followed it with two straight errors, one on a block by Chakirelis. Blackman put down her third kill of the set to bring up set point and the Eagles won the set 25-22 on a Courtney Johnk attack error.

The Eagles carried the momentum in to the second set, rolling to a 25-16 win. Winthrop outhit HPU .267 to .059 in the frame. Stephanie Palmer paced the Eagles with nine assists, three kills and one block.

High Point kept the match alive with a 25-22 win in the third set. The Panthers biggest lead came at 17-10 on a kill by Heldt but the Eagles stayed in the match, coming within one point of HPU at 20-19. Becca Toor served the next ball in to the net for Winthrop giving HPU a two-point lead. The Panthers held the lead for a 25-22 win. Heldt and Chakirelis each had four kills in the frame.

Winthrop won the match with a 25-12 win in the fourth set, outhitting HPU .393 to .000

Johnk finished the match with eight kills and Breanna Holliday added 12 digs.

High Point will hit the road Tuesday for the first of five consecutive road matches. The Panthers will travel to Buies Creek, N.C. for a 7 p.m. match against Campbell. The Camels topped HPU 3-0 at the Millis Center to open Big South play earlier this season. Johnk had 11 kills in the loss and Heldt had 10.