HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University women's volleyball opens up their season this weekend as they head to Fort Worth, Texas to compete in the 2019 Cowtown Classic. The Panthers will be in action three times throughout the weekend, with two matches on Friday against Lipscomb & TCU, and another on Saturday against Villanova.

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Lipscomb University
Where: Fort Worth, Texas | University Recreation Center
When: Friday, August 30 | 11 AM

Who: Texas Christian University
Where: Forth Worth, Texas | University Recreation Center
When: Friday, August 30 | 8 PM
 
Who: Villanova
Where: Forth Worth, Texas | University Recreation Center
When: Saturday, August 31 | 12 PM
 
MATCHUP HISTORY
• High Point will be facing Lipscomb for the first time in program history
• The Panthers trail 0-2 in the all-time series against TCU
• In their one previous meeting, High Point defeated Villanova 3-0 last year on the road

THE PANTHERS
• High Point comes into the 2019 season looking to make their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and were voted preseason favorites in the Big South
• The Panthers will boast a young roster in the coming season, with 10 freshmen and six sophomores currently on roster
• Junior defensive specialist Abby Bottomley and sophomore outside hitter Madison Smith were named to the Preseason All-Big South First-Team 
• Averaging 1.57 service aces per set, HPU ranked as high as 27th in all of Division I volleyball in 2018. Returning seniors Jenna Smith and Jenna Weidner combined for 48 of their team's 163 aces the previous year

THE BISONS
• Lipscomb was picked third in this year's ASUN Conference Preseason Poll
• The Bisons recorded a conference-high 13.87 kills per set, ranking 34th in the country overall
 
THE HORNED FROGS
• TCU is one of five teams on the Panthers' 2019 schedule to garner national attention this month, after receiving votes in the latest AVCA national poll
• The Horned Frogs were picked to finish third in this year's Big XII Preseason Coaches Poll, trailing No. 20 Baylor and national championship contender No. 4 Texas for the top spot
 
THE WILDCATS
• Villanova found themselves picked to finish fourth in this year's Big East preseason poll, with senior libero Regan Lough receiving Preseason All-Big East honors
• The Wildcats return five regular starters from 2018, including last season's kills (Clare Delaplane), digs (Regan Lough) and assists (Emma Decker) leaders

#GoHPU