Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University volleyball team took a set from Virginia Tech but couldn't overcome the Hokies' attack, falling 3-1 (16-25, 26-24, 13-25, 12-25) Saturday in Blacksburg, Va. Senior Breanna Holliday came up with 20 digs and a service ace for HPU while junior Courtney Johnk led the team with nine kills.

“When we competed and played within our system we looked really good today,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “In the second set we did that and forced Virginia Tech to make some errors. This game raised the bar for our program which is always our goal in non-conference tournaments. Virginia Tech has a great team this year and they are going to put up a lot of wins. We made a big step from the way we played yesterday to today and I expect that to continue. Breanna Holliday was fantastic for us defensively.”

Holliday's 20 digs were a match-high and Johnk had four blocks to go with her nine kills. Freshman Chelsea Davis had six kills, nine digs and a block and classmate Caity Farus put up four kills and four blocks.

Virginia Tech took the first set 25-15 behind the dominating play of Justine Record. She had five service aces and a kill in the frame. The Hokies went on a seven point run with her at the service line that was the difference in the set. HPU had run off four straight points to come within one of the Hokies at 11-12. Stephanie Kaminskas picked up a kill with a dump set to start the run and Davis blocked Record for the second point. Record would eventually end the run with a kill and then head back to the service line where the Hokies rattled off seven straight points.

The Panthers held off a late run by Virginia Tech in the second set to win 26-24. HPU led 16-12 midway through the frame on a solo block by Michelle Chakirelis but the Hokies battled back take a 20-18 lead. Back-to-back Panther blocks tied the game at 20-20. Kaminskas was involved in both blocks, pairing up with Chakirelis on the first and Farus on the second. The score was tied three more times in the frame, last at 24-24 on a kill by Samantha Gostling. Kristin Heldt put down a kill to give HPU set point and Johnk connected on her seventh kill of the day to give the Panthers the 26-24 win. HPU out blocked the Hokies 6-1 in the set.

In the third set HPU couldn't get its offence in rhythm, falling 25-13 while hitting -.071 while the Hokies hit .300. After putting down 14 kills in the second set the Panthers had just four in the third. Heldt had two kills and Chakirelis and Farus had one each. Virginia Tech continued to control the match in the fourth set taking a 25-12 win.

Heldt finished the day with five kills and Kaminskas dished out 22 assists.

HPU (0-2) will play the final match in the Hokie Tournament at 5 p.m. The Panthers will face Cleveland State who is 1-1 with a win over Indiana in the tournament.