Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
· HPU played tough against the Kennesaw State Owls; the Owls would edge out the Panthers in three sets.
· High Point picked up their 2nd win of the season in dominating fashion, sweeping Furman in 3 straight sets.
 
HIGH POINT, NC- The Panthers split their doubleheader on Sunday dropping the first contest to Kennesaw State 3-0. The Panthers would wrap up the weekend on a high note with a 3-0 sweep of Furman.
 
Game 1: Kennesaw State vs. High Point 
 
The Panthers played a close one against the Owls of Kennesaw State. The first and third sets were decided by a total of five points. The first set went back and forth. The two were tied at 16 when Kennesaw State went on a 6-1 run to make 22-17. The Panthers would then battle back to tie the game at 23 behind big plays from sophomores Gabrielle Idlebird and Mackenzi Thornburg. Idlebird recorded a perfect hitting percentage in the first set contributing two kills in big moments. The Owls would pick up the last two points and win the set.
 
The Owls pulled away in the middle of the second set winning 25-16. Annie Sullivan led the way for the Panthers in scoring in the second set with three kills. The Panthers were within 2 with the score at 12-10 after an Idlebird kill, when the Owls would go on an 8-3 run to give them a 20-13 lead.
 
The Panthers put together a terrific effort in the third set where Kennesaw State would pick up a 25-22 win. 
The third set went back and forth, the largest lead for either team in the set was only 3. Freshman Kaley Rammelsberg recorded a kill that would put the Panthers up 20-19. The Owls would score two quick points to go up 22-20 and came away with a 25-22 set victory to sweep and win the match 3-0.
 
Three of the Panthers freshman Maggie Salley, Kaley Rammelsberg, and Annie Sullivan led the way in kills with 5 each. Abby Bottomley led the team in digs with 13. Rammelsberg and Bottomley each had a service ace as well.
 
Game 2: Furman vs High Point
 
The Panthers came back ready to play again in game two and powered past Furman with a 3-0 sweep to win the match.
 
"It was really good to see us come out and play a complete match. Especially after some really tough decisions" Head coach Ryan Meek said. "After the match against Kennesaw, we talked about coming out quick and establishing physical dominance. Our message was that 'you guys need to come out and impose your will and I thought we did that. I think to see us come out and see us attack and see things go their way, gave us a lot of confidence."
 
The Panthers opened the match playing inspired volleyball in the first set led by Sophomore Madison Smith. Smith had 9 kills in the first set which was a match-high for most kills in a single set. Redshirt sophomore Katie Doering was a big difference-maker in the first set, playing energized and with a lot of intensity. Doering's kill to make it 13-7 caused Furman to call time out. After the time out, HPU kept the intensity continuing to score at a frequent pace. The hot start would propel the Panthers to a 25-17 set win.
 
In the second set, the Panthers picked up where they left off. With the score at 8-4, a long rally occurred that finished with the panthers scoring thanks to freshman Sopheea Mink's kill. The Panthers would take a 10-4 lead into a time-out. From there the Panthers would push on, an Annie Sullivan kill would give HPU a 17-10 lead. HPU won the set 25-18 with the set deciding point coming off a block from Rammelsberg and Doering. The Panthers took a 2-0 lead into the 3rd set.
 
The Panthers were able to achieve the sweep of Furman by winning the third set 25-21. The Panthers were led by the underclassmen in the third set with all the kills coming from freshmen and sophomores.
 
The Win By the Numbers
Madison Smith led the way offensively for the Panthers in the set with 14 kills and 4 service aces. 
Smith was strong defensively as well with 13 digs. Senior Jenna Smith recorded 21 assists while sophomore Mackenzi Thornburg contributed 16. Abby Bottomley again led the Panthers defensively with 18 digs.
 
Up Next: High Point travels to Lincoln, Nebraska for the Ameritas Players Challenge. The Panthers will play in a doubleheader on Friday, facing #2 Nebraska at 1:00 and Loyola Marymount at 6:00.