HIGH POINT, N.C.—The High Point University volleyball team competes in the Pitt Invite on Saturday (Sept. 15) in Pittsburgh. The Panthers (3-6) will first take on Liberty at 10 a.m., before facing No. 9 Pitt at 7 p.m.
 
Live stats for both matches will be available and the contest against Pitt will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
 
On the Panthers
• High Point comes into the weekend with a 3-6 record after going 2-1 at the Villanova Classic last weekend in Villanova, Pa.
• HPU swept Temple and the host Wildcats, 3-0, before taking a set from then-No. 21 Utah.
• Senior Molly Livingston paces the Purple & White offense with a .342 hitting percentage and 2.75 kills per set. She also leads HPU with 0.41 service aces per set and 0.97 blocks per frame.
• Sophomore Abby Bottomley has been named Big South Defensive Player of the Week each of the last two weeks and leads HPU with 5.75 digs per set, which ranks in a tie for eighth in the country.
• The matchup with Pitt will be High Point's fourth against a ranked opponent this season. HPU previously played then-No. 2 Texas, then-No. 8 Wisconsin and then-No. 21 Utah. Michigan, which was unranked when facing High Point, is up to No. 19 in the latest AVCA rankings.
 
On Liberty
• The Flames are 3-6 on the season after defeating Virginia, 3-0, on Tuesday night in Lynchburg, Va.
• Liberty has a balanced attack with five players averaging two kills per set or more.
• Margaret Latchford leads the defense with 3.84 digs per set.
• As Liberty and HPU are former conference foes, they have played 44 times before, with Liberty leading the series, 17-27.
 
On Pitt
• Pitt is 9-0 on the season after winning matches against Kennesaw State, 3-2, Dayton, 3-1, and then-No. 12 Washington, 3-0, last weekend in Pittsburgh.
• Kayla Lund leads the team with 4.06 kills per set and is hitting .372 on the season.
• Sabrina Starks leads the squad with 1.36 blocks per set.
• This will be the first meeting between High Point and Pitt in volleyball.
 
Up Next
• The Panthers travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to take on conference newcomer USC Upstate on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in both teams' Big South opener.