• Freshman Annie Sullivan had another big night with a match high 17 kills in the contest.
• High Point is now 2-0 in Big South conference play this season.
• With tonight's win over Hampton, the Panthers have won 8 of their last 9 contests.

 
High Point, NC- High Point improved to 2-0 in Big South play with their 3-1 win over the Hampton Pirates.  Freshman Annie Sullivan had another big night with a match high 17 kills in the contest. Redshirt sophomore Katie Doering contributed tremendously to the Panther win with 8 kills. With tonight's win over Hampton, the Panthers have won 8 of their last 9 contests.
 
"It was a tough win tonight" Head coach Ryan Meek said. "We knew Hampton was a lot better than they had been in the past, they were physical and athletic and were able to match us at the net. I think it took us some time to get used to that, we fought and I think a common theme of this team is that we fight even if things don't look great, even if things aren't going well for us our way we figure out a way to stay in the match and make some plays and pull out the win."
 
High Point used a 6-2 run in the first set to create space between themselves and the Pirates early in the match at 9-5. Hampton got within as many as two once the Panthers past 10 points but HPU continued to protect their lead. A 6-2 run at the end of the set allowed the Panthers to claim the 1^st set 25-19.  High Point's freshmen continue their excellent play, Kaley Rammelsberg led the way in kills for HPU with 4 kills in the set. Sopheea Mink was behind her with 3 kills in the set.
 
 Hampton jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the second set but the panthers charged right back to even it up. From that point on the set went back and forth, with the score at 9-8 HPU went on a run. Kills by Idlebird and Sullivan put the Panthers up 11-8. Hampton did not fall back, however as they went on a 4 -point run to take the lead by 1. This set would stay with this tempo, HPU called time out. Panthers scored 2 quick points out of the timeout to tie it at 15. But later in the set Hampton would answer again. The Pirates were up 24-22 with a chance to take the set a Doering kill made it 24-23. Hampton called timeout, out of their time out the Hampton Pirates took the third set 25-23 to tie the match 1-1.
 
The Pirates second set win set up a critical set 3. Hampton took control late in the third set with a 21-19 lead. Bottomley's dig would keep the  play alive to allow Rammelsberg to get a kill, to make it a one point game. A Hampton attack error tied the game at 21. Annie Sullivan came up clutch with a kill to put HPU up 22-21, Hampton called timeout. Pirates scored out of the timeout, but Sullivan came up big again with a kill and then had a huge block on the next play to make it 24-22. Sullivan would clinch the 3^rd set with a kill, Panthers took the third set 25-23. Panthers led 2-1.
 
HPU ended the third set with a run and would open the 4^th set with a run, grabbing a 10-5 lead early in the set. Ali Thanhauser brought great energy into the 4^th for the Panthers with 3 kills and 2 digs.  It was a big night for Annie Sullivan, her kill made it 17-15 in the 4^th. Jenna Smith showed a ton of hustle as she kept a play alive at the net and set up Sullivan's kill. Jenna Wiedner had two straight aces that made it 23-18 for HPU in the 4^th. Thanhauser's kill put the Panthers up 24-18.  A Pirate service error gave HPU 25. Panthers won the 4^th set 25-19 and won the match 3-1 in 4 sets.

Up Next: The Panthers have a quick turnaround as they host Campbell on Saturday, October 5^th at 2 PM in the Millis Center.
 
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