Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University volleyball team fell to Indiana 3-1 (15-25, 25-19, 19-25, 12-25) in the season opener at the Hokie Tournament in Blacksburg, Va. Freshman Chelsea Davis had a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs in her collegiate debut while junior Stephanie Kaminskas dished out 31 assists with 13 digs.

“For the first match of the year against a Big 10 opponent that made it to the Sweet 16 last season, I thought we played with a ton of heart and had some great stretches,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “There were moments of phenomenal volleyball and moments where our inexperience showed but overall this is a great jumping off point for the season.”

After losing the first set, the Panthers battled back to win the second before Indiana pulled out the win. Davis led the Panthers with 14 kills and added a service ace. Senior Breanna Holliday had a match-high 20 digs and junior Courtney Johnk added nine kills. Freshman Kristin Heldt put down eight kills

Indiana took the first set 25-15. The Panthers put down 10 kills in the first frame but also made 10 attack errors. Holliday came up with 11 digs in the set. Johnk had back-to-back kills to cut Indiana's lead to 21-13 late in the set but the Hoosiers controlled the rest of the frame and win 25-15.

The Panthers came back to win the second set 25-19. Davis had five kills and a service ace in the win. Davis was at the service line for a four point run late in the set that brought HPU to set point. After getting an ace her tough serve kept the Hoosiers out of system, forcing three straight Indiana attack errors that gave HPU a 24-18 lead. Davis served one in to the net to keep Indiana alive in the frame but the Hoosiers' Kristen Seaton served her ball long to give HPU a 25-19 set win. Michelle Chakirelis also had three kills in the set.

Both teams had their offenses clicking in the third set with Indiana edging HPU 25-19. The Hoosiers hit .343 in the set while the Panthers put up a .216 attacking percentage. Davis continued to pace the Panthers with five kills in the frame while Johnk added four and Heldt had three.

Indiana rolled in the fourth, and final, set to a 25-12 win and a 3-1 match win. An early seven-point run took Indiana from 9-6 lead to a 14-6 lead. The Hoosiers remained in control for the duration of the match despite a pair of late kills from Davis.

Chakirelis finished the day with seven kills and Molly Barlow came up with 10 digs.

“Stephanie Kaminskas played with heart for the entire match,” Oliver said. “She had stretches where everything worked and stretches where it didn't. As the season goes on there will be more of the great and less of the struggles for her. Chelsea Davis and Kristin Heldt really held us down on the attack and I am very pleased with their performances.”

The Panthers continue action in the Hokie Tournament on Saturday. HPU will face Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m. and Cleveland State at 5 p.m.