Site: Clinton, S.C. (Templeton Center)
Score: High Point 3, Presbyterian 1 (25-19, 15-25, 25-22, 25-16)
Records: HPU: 12-8 (4-0 Big South), PC: 8-10 (2-2 Big South)
 
Next HPU Event: Saturday, Oct. 12 -- at Charleston Southern (Charleston, S.C.), 2 p.m.
 
CLINTON, S.C. -- Freshman Kaley Rammelsberg served up a season-best five aces in High Point University's 3-1 win over Presbyterian College on Friday, Oct. 11. Fellow freshman Megan Kratzer provided 14 kills to help the Panthers stay unbeaten in Big South play.

High Point started to heat up midway through the first set, going on a 10-2 run to open a 15-7 lead. Presbyterian fought back with an 11-2 run to take the lead 18-17 before HPU came back to close out the set, 25-19. Redshirt sophomore Katie Doering picked up a block assist and two kills, including the set-winner, in the final five points to help the Panthers take the set.
 
The Blue Hose came out of the gates strong in the second set, forcing HPU to take a timeout with the score at 7-3 while hitting .462 through the first 10 points. Another 7-3 run for the hosts pushed the lead to 14-6, which the Panthers were unable to come back from, dropping the set, 25-15.

Neither team could pull away early in the third set, with High Point holding the set's largest lead in the early goings at 6-4. The Panthers were eventually able to string together a run of three to take an 11-8 lead and force PC to take a timeout. A few more points and another 3-0 run forced Presbyterian to take its second and final timeout of the set with the score in HPU's favor at 15-11. The Blue Hose tied the set at 21-21 but the Panthers took four of the next five points, including two kills from Kratzer to take the set 25-22 and go up in the match, 2-1. Kratzer's 14 kills in the match marks the fourth time the freshman has reached double digits this season.

"We talked all week about fighting and how this was a tough place to play and a team that could frustrate us with their defense," head coach Ryan Meek said. "I thought we came out focused and fired up but let off the gas some in the first set when we had a big lead. They had our number in the second set and outplayed us at every turn. I'm really proud of the team for re-focusing on ourselves and what we needed to do and for fighting. The third set could have gone wither way and I credit the team's grit with us finding a way to pull it out."
 
Just like the third set, the fourth was very tight and could've gone either way. High Point went on a small run in the middle of the set to go up 17-12, with three straight service aces from Rammelsberg to cap the run. Presbyterian closed the gap to two points at 18-16 but HPU turned on the jets to finish, going on a 7-2 run to end the match. Rammelsberg's five service aces in the match are the most a High Point player has recorded this season.
 
The Panthers continue their South Carolina trip with a match against Charleston Southern tomorrow, Oct. 12. First serve against the Buccaneers is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
 
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