• Sophomore Abby Bottomley records a career-high 42 digs.
• Senior Molly Livingston leads the Panthers with 17 kills.
• HPU totals season-highs in kills (61), digs (92) and blocks (13).
 
Johnson City, Tenn. – The High Point University volleyball team defeated East Tennessee State 3-2, 25-18, 25-21, 17-25, 18-25 and 17-15, Tuesday, Oct. 9 in Johnson City, Tenn.
 
"I was proud of our grittiness and the way we fought tonight in a very tough situation," head coach Ryan Meek said. "We came out and executed our game plan to perfection the first two sets. I thought ETSU did a great job changing their attack patterns and set distribution in sets three and four. To see our team come out and make adjustments and fight for a win in the fifth set is a testament to our young women, the work they've put in and our tough preseason. Now we need to get home, get some rest and come out ready to compete against USC Upstate and UNC Asheville this upcoming weekend."
 
High Point (11-8, 6-1) totaled a season-high 61 kills on .149 hitting percentage. The Panthers logged season-highs in digs (92) and blocks (13) as a team. Sophomore Abby Bottomley was the leader on the defensive end for the Panthers with a match and career-high 42 digs, while senior Molly Livingston led the team offensively with 17 kills and a .405 hitting percentage.
 
The Panthers trailed ETSU (16-5, 5-1)  8-7, but responded with a 3-0 run as the teams switched sides to take a 10-8 lead. The Buccaneers replied with a 2-0 run and tied the set. Both teams traded points to push the score to 15-15, before HPU scored two straight to take the set 17-15 and finish the match. Livingston logged four kills and Bottomley recorded eight digs in the deciding set.
 
The Panthers trailed 10-12 before going on a 6-0 run to take a 16-12 lead in the first set. They finished the set 25-18. HPU out hit ETSU .270-.111 and recorded six blocks to ETSU's one in the first set. Freshman Madison Smith led the Panthers with four kills. Bottomley recorded seven digs in the first. Seniors Katie Tylman and Jordan Hefner assisted on four and three blocks, respectively.
 
The second set was tied at 18-18, before the Panthers finished it with 7-3 run. Bottomley logged 13 digs, and Livingston and Hefner led the offense with three kills each.
 
The Buccaneers went on a 5-1 run after the set was tied at 15 to take a 20-16 lead. They took the set 25-17. Freshman Madison Smith led the Panthers with three of her 14 kills in the set.
 
ETSU jumped out to a 20-10 lead in the fourth set, and won the set 25-18. Livingston logged seven kills in the fourth set. Senior Mariah McPartland's six kills led the Buccaneers in the fourth.
 
Junior Leah Clayton led the Buccaneers with 14 kills, while sophomore Marija Popovic led defensively with 37 digs.
 
Up next, the Panthers will go back to conference play as they welcome USC Upstate and UNC Asheville to the Millis Center Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13.
 
#GoHPU