Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University volleyball team fell 3-1 (23-25, 15-25, 25-13, 21-25) on the road Friday to Gardner-Webb. Freshmen Kristin Heldt and Chelsea Davis led the team with 11 kills each in the loss.

“Gardner-Webb had an unbelievable environment and a great game plan tonight,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “There is no doubt they earned the win. They came out with the passion and energy I expect from our team.”

Davis finished the night with a double-double adding 12 digs to her 11 kills while Heldt added two blocks. Junior Courtney Johnk also had 10 kills for the night.

The Panthers fall to 6-17 (4-5 Big South) with the loss while GWU improves to 9-15 (4-5 Big South).

HPU had a late run in the first set but came up just short, falling 25-23 to Gardner-Webb. The Panthers trailed 20-23, when Heldt put down her third kill of the frame to make it a two-point set but Laura Wilcox had a kill to bring up set point. Jamie McDonald kept HPU alive in the set with her third kill and Wilcox made an attack error to make it a 24-23 Bulldog lead. GWU's freshman setter, Heather Feldman, dumped the ball to win the set for her team 25-23.

Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second set and held the advantage all the way to a 25-15 win. The Runnin' Bulldogs outhit HPU .524 to .087 in the frame and put up four blocks on the Panthers.

HPU held off the sweep with a 25-13 win in the third set. The Panthers finished the frame with a 8-3 run, including four straight points with Davis at the service line. HPU had 14 kills on 28 swings without an attack error to hit .500 in set three. Heldt and Caity Farus had four kills each in the win.

The fourth set was tied nine times before Gardner-Webb took an 18-17 lead on an ace by Evan Moffitt. The Runnin' Bulldogs opened up a 22-18 lead. GWU held the four-point lead, winning the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

Junior Lauren Bell dished out 45 assists and junior Molly Barlow had a match-high 14 digs. Farus finished the night with five kills on .417 hitting and Michelle Chakirelis chipped in eight kills.

The Panthers play at UNC Asheville Saturday at 5 p.m. in the third game of HPU's five-game road stand.