HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The High Point University volleyball team closed out this week's contests with a 3-0 sweep over the visiting Highlanders of Radford. In an all-around team effort, the Panthers were led by
Sydney Palazzolo who strung together 13 kills on the night. Three Panthers finished with six kills apiece, including
Dylan Maberry,
Sopheea Minkand
Maria Miggins, with Mink collecting a team-high five blocks.
Ryan Meek – "I was a little concerned with how we were going to come out after last night's match, and you know whether we won or lost last night just the emotion of it, are we going to be able to bring that tonight. I thought we started slow, but I mean the thing I like to see is they scored 23 the first set, 19 the second, and 13 the third so we got better as the match went on. I thought we brought more emotion and got everybody in, and everyone contributed. I think that's always huge for morale and all that when everybody gets to play. All of our kids have been just working hard at practice so it's great to get time and play well enough that we get kind of everybody in and then to see them go succeed was great. Just a good team win overall."
Site: Millis Center
Score: High Point 3 (25, 25, 25), Radford 0 (23, 19, 13)
Records: High Point (19-9, 12-2), Radford (9-16, 5-8)
High Point took some time to get into their groove, making for a close first set. The Panthers seven straight points bumped the score to a quick 16-7 lead. Luckily the nine-point lead gave HPU enough cushion for when the Highlanders' crawled back into the set.
Only up by one at 22-21, Maberry sent a rocket over to the other side to go up two. Radford had a chance to tie the game at 24 all and go extra points but Palazzolo crushed their dreams with a hard hit to call the set at 25-23.
Set two ran a steady pace for the Panthers, only allowing the Highlanders one run to make it 21-17. Mink had a strong presence for High Point on the front row, collecting four of her six total kills throughout the set.
Along with Mink, Miggins added three kills, three assists and one block assist in the second set. High Point held Radford to only two more points to close out the set, 25-19.
The Panthers cruised through set three, not only dominating on the attack but also at the net, registering four of the teams 21 total blocks. Mink had an outstanding night guarding the net as she was apart of three of the four blocks in the third set.
The Panthers made their biggest run midway through the set, pushing to a 17-9 lead. The Highlanders had no answer in the third set as
Lucy Dumford and Mink gave HPU their largest lead of the night, 23-11.
Megan Kratzer and Mink secured the Panther win with a double block in the middle to close the game.
Up Next: HPU remains at home next week for the team's final regular season matchups, beginning Friday, November 11
th at 6:00pm. The Panthers will host Gardner-Webb for senior night at Millis.
#GoHPU
