Site: High Point, N.C. (Millis Center)
Score: High Point 3, Winthrop 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-18)
Records: HPU 17-5 (9-0 Big South), Winthrop 11-9 (6-4 Big South)
Next HPU Event: Friday, October 23, 2021 -- vs. Gardner-Webb (High Point, N.C.), 2 PM
HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The High Point University volleyball team swept Winthrop 3-0 as the Panthers acquired their 25th consecutive Big South Win on Friday night (Oct. 22). Sydney Palazzolo, Dylan Maberry, and Gabrielle Idlebird each recorded 10 kills in the win against the Eagles.
Ryan Meek: I thought Millis was awesome tonight, I thought we were a little intimidated by it playing in front of your friends, family, and people you know so it took us a little bit to get used to that. I was really proud of how we went up 2-0 playing well but not perfect and every Friday night we have been up 2-0 and lost the third set. I challenged them in the locker room between two and three and said let's not have our third set nap. We got down 3-1 to start the third set I could tell they were getting comfortable and started to tuck themselves in and I was just like no we are not having this. So, to see them respond was great. To dig 90 balls, to play defense Winthrop is usually always the best defensive team in the conference and to out defend them was huge. It was a really good night. The greatest part is that it's a team it was not one kid with a lot of kills it's everybody pitching in.
Meek on Alumni Night: Those are the adults now, you want to call them kids but those are the adults that built the program. To look back and see the players that were here before me that have rings from here and were the ones who laid the foundation for what the program is today. That is what we have tried to build on hopefully we made them proud, hopefully, we made them happy to be here, and happy to see what we have done with the program. I did not get to coach any of them but I have heard their names, I know who they are, it was great to have them here supporting us, and hopefully, they are proud of what we are building.
Panther Particulars
Winthrop jumped out to an early lead to start the first set but HPU fought back Winthrop led 7-4 early in the first set but the Panthers stormed back and tied the game at seven on a kill from Palazzolo.
The Millis Center crowd got into it as the first set went back and forth, Idlebird put HPU up 13-11 with a kill that pushed the Panther lead to two much to the delight of the home crowd.
With the game tied at 17 HPU went on a 4-0 run to go up 21-17.HPU went on to win the first set 25-21. Idlebird scored the set point with an explosive kill.
The Panthers were able to carry the momentum from the first set into the second and win 25-20. Winthrop fought back into the set to make it a 21-19 lead for HPU after trailing 21-19. HPU went on a 4-0 run to get to 25 and gave HPU a 2-0 lead in the match. Idlebird had the set point for the second straight set.
The third set was HPU's most dominant set as the Panthers went on to win 25-18.
Winthrop took a 5-4 lead to start the third set then HPU went on a 7-0 run. Maberry recorded a kill to give HPU an 11-5 lead.
For the third straight set point, Idlebird delivered the closing point as HPU swept Winthrop 3-0 to pick up its 25th consecutive Big South Conference win.
Palazzolo recorded her seventh career double-double as she had 10 kills and 19 digs. Sopheea Mink provided a spark off the bench with seven kills and a .467 attacking percentage.
UP NEXT
Panthers remain in Millis as homecoming weekend rolls on. Gardner-Webb travels to HPU for a Saturday showdown at 2:00 PM.
#OBR x #GoHPU
