Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University volleyball team swept Navy 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22) Saturday at the Patriot Invitational in Fairfax, Va. for the Panthers first win of the season. Junior Lauren Bell had 34 assists in her first start and freshman Kristin Heldt had a match-high 13 kills.

“This match was exactly what we needed,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “We showed focus and determination and played High Point style volleyball. Kristin Heldt, Chelsea Davis, Michelle Chakirelis and Jamie McDonald all played extremely well. Lauren Bell stepped in to her first game as the starting setter and the team hit .252. That's a pretty good sign. I am happy with the consistency in our play throughout the match.”

Heldt hit .259 with 13 kills and three blocks while Davis posted her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 15 digs. She also had two solo blocks. Chakirelis added five kills and two blocks and McDonald had three kills and two blocks. Bell dished out 34 assists while putting down four kills on four swings for a perfect hitting percentage. She also had eight digs and two blocks.

HPU hit .314 in the first set with six Panthers registering a kill in the 25-17 win. Heldt led the way with four kills and two blocks. The Panthers trailed 4-6 when Courtney Johnk stepped up to the service line and served HPU to an 8-6 lead. Heldt started the rally with a solo block and followed it with a kill at 5-5. Navy sided out on a kill by Carolyn Ewert but Davis put down her first kill of the match to extend HPU's lead and send Molly Barlow back to the service line. The Panthers rattled off seven straight points, including two kills by Bell to make the lead 15-7. The Midshipmen trailed the rest of the way and HPU won the set 25-17.

The second set was 21-21 and a Navy attack error gave HPU the one-point lead. Davis blocked Navy's Katie Bray to make it 23-21 and Bell and Davis put down kills to win the frame 25-21. HPU hit .317 in the set with six Panthers registering a kill. Heldt again led the way, this time with five and Johnk added four.

Oliver went to his bench in the third set, bringing Brittany Durham, Caity Farus and Stephanie Kaminskas in to the match. Durham had three kills, Farus had a dig and two aces and Kaminskas came up with a dig in the 25-22 win. Heldt and Davis continued to lead HPU offensively with four kills each in the frame.

Johnk finished the day with five kills and Barlow came up with 10 digs. Senior Breanna Holliday had a match-high 22 digs in the win. It is also a new career high for the libero.

HPU (1-4)will play the finale of the Patriot Invitational Sunday at 1 p.m. against George Mason.