Box Score BOX SCORE

After winning the first set the High Point University volleyball team fell to Maryland – Eastern Shore 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 24-26) in the final game of the High Point Invitational at the Millis Center. Michelle Chakirelis, Courtney Johnk and Kristin Heldt each put up double digit kills in the loss.

“Maryland – Eastern Shore made big plays at the right times tonight,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “We struggled to make the big play at the end of sets but we responded well over the weekend. It came down to two or three plays where we just couldn't get the kills. With such a young team it is a new experience to be tied 24-24 or push to a fourth set. It is my job as a coach to help them learn from this.”

Chakirelis led the team with 13 kills and Heldt and Johnk each added 12. Senior libero Breanna Holliday tied her career high with 22 digs and Lauren Bell set a career high with 42 assists. Caity Farus had five kills and five blocks for the night.

The first set was tied 19-19 when HPU took the lead on a kill by Chakirelis. Saitaua Iosia had an error and a kill for UMES to keep HPU a point ahead 21-20. The Panthers rattled off four straight points to win the set 25-20. Johnk had three of HPU's nine kills in the frame. Bell had seven assists and two aces in the set as well.

UMES led the entire second set, pulling out a 25-21 win to even the match. HPU cut the Hawks' lead to two points on a kill by Heldt that made it a 20-22 game. Iosia had another kill to side out for UMES and kills by Zoe Bowens and Maline Vaitai won the set 25-21.

The Hawks went on to win the final two sets and take the match 3-1. UMES outhit HPU .346 to .241 in the third set and narrowly escaped with a 26-24 win in the final frame. The fourth set was tied 24-24 when Iosia put down her 21st kill of the night to bring up match point. An HPU attack error was the difference on the night as Heldt's attempt went wide.

HPU heads to the coast next weekend for two Big South Conference games. The Panthers will play at Charleston Southern on Friday and Coastal Carolina on Saturday.