• Senior Molly Livingston posts a match-high 11 blocks
• Nine different Panthers record at least one kill.
• High Point out hits USC Upstate .343-.090.
 
HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team defeated USC Upstate 3-0, 25-20, 25-15 and 25-16, Friday night, Oct. 12 in the Millis Center.
 
"I thought we played a composed and complete match tonight," head coach Ryan Meek said. "We talked to our kids about focusing on our side of the net and taking care of the things we could, and we did that tonight. I was really happy to see us serve more aggressively starting in the second set, and it showed in their hitting percentage. Now, we need to refocus and be ready for UNC Asheville tomorrow."
 
The Panthers (12-8, 7-1) controlled the net all match out hitting the Spartans (7-15, 3-5) .343-.090 and posting 47 kills to USC Upstate's 28. HPU also recorded 12.5 blocks as a team. Senior Molly Livingston led the Purple & White with a match-high three solo blocks and eight block assists. She also had seven kills on a .538 hitting percentage. Nine different Panthers recorded kills in the match. Freshman Madison Smith led the way in kills with 11, while senior Katie Tylman was tops on the team with a .667 hitting percentage.
 
High Point jumped out to an 18-14 lead in the first set before going on a 5-0 run to push the score to 23-14. The Spartans responded with a 4-0 run, but the Panthers finished the set 25-20. High Point out hit USC Upstate .469-.167 in the set. Senior Jordan Hefner and Madison Smith led HPU with five kills each. Livingston recorded five blocks, one solo and four block assists, in the set. 
 
In the second set, the Panthers were leading 10-7 then went on an 8-1 run to take control at 18-8. High Point finished the set 25-15. As a team, HPU posted a .370 hitting percentage compared to the Spartans' .042. Madison Smith was the leader for the Panthers with four kills.
 
The score was tied at 9-9 in the third set before the Purple & White went on a 9-1 run to make it 18-10. HPU won the set 25-16. High Point logged a .225 hitting percentage during the set. Tylman led the way for the Panthers with four kills on a .667 hitting percentage. Sophomore Abby Bottomley led the way defensively with 11 digs.
 
Bottomley recorded a match-high 16 digs, while freshman Mackenzi Thornburg had a match-high 19 assists with junior Jenna Smith right behind her with 18 assists of her own.
 
Up next, the Panthers will continue conference play as they host UNC Asheville tomorrow, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Millis Center.
 
#GoHPU