Box Score PDF

• Sophomore Katie Tylman recorded 13 kills on just 18 attack attempts (.667).
• Sophomore Molly Livingston tallied five kills in the first set and the last two kills of the match to anchor the offense.
• Junior Haley Barnes racked up 10 kills, two blocks and two aces in the victory.
 
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The High Point University volleyball team posted a .425 attack percentage in a 3-0 sweep of Winthrop on Saturday afternoon in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
Three Panthers (12-5, 3-1) recorded double digits in kills as HPU held the Eagles (8-10, 0-3) to just 31 kills in the win.
 
Sophomore Molly Livingston posted five kills in the first set victory (25-15) before sophomore Katie Tylman led the way with six kills in the second (25-14). Winthrop, however, kept the third set much closer and built a 24-22 lead, but Livingston anchored a 4-0 to close out the match (26-24).
 
"Our group had a really strong week of practice that resulted in a good conference road win," head coach Tom Mendoza said. "I liked our poise and consistency throughout the match, which showed in our offensive numbers and side-out game. When we served and blocked aggressively we were able to take control of the match and that is something we will look to build on for Tuesday."
 
From the right side, Tylman paced the Purple & White with 13 kills while hitting at a .667 clip. Likewise, Livingston posted 10 kills while also hitting over .600 on the day.
 
Rounding out the attackers in double figures was junior Haley Barnes who tallied 10 kills to go with two aces and two blocks. Meanwhile, the other outside hitter – senior Megan Kennedy – registered five kills, two aces and six digs.
 
Defensively, the Eagles recorded a 32-27 edge in digs, but couldn't slow the Panthers offense while hitting .200 in the match. In the back row, junior Amy Pilat served up an ace while earning seven digs.
 
At the setter position, junior Carly Jimenez posted 21 assists and three digs while freshman Jenna Smith added 18 assists and four digs.
 
HPU earned a 4-3 edge before Kennedy served the squad to a 6-0 run to build a 10-3 advantage. From there, the Panthers rode Livingston's five kills to a 25-15 win in the set.
 
Similar to the first frame, Winthrop trailed High Point by one early (7-6) before another HPU sophomore got it going. This time, Tylman recorded six kills to spark an 18-8 run to give the Purple & White a 25-14 victory.
 
After the intermission, the Eagles took their first lead of the match at 3-1. The Panthers, then, built the first four-point advantage of the frame (20-16). But Winthrop wouldn't go quietly posting an 8-2 run to grab a 24-22 lead and get within a point of extending the match.
 
However, Livingston sandwiched kills around two Winthrop attack errors to close the match on a 4-0 run and give HPU a 26-24 victory.
 
The Panthers are back on the road on Tuesday when they head to Buies Creek, N.C. to take on Campbell at 7 p.m.
 
#GoHPU