The High Point University volleyball squad hosts James Madison on Wednesday afternoon for its home opener. The Panthers take a 7-3 overall record into the contest after sweeping the Fairfield Invitational.  

FINAL. @gabbyidlebird sets the single-match record for hitting percentage (.846) and finishes with 11 kills! We also finish with the 5th-highest hitting percentage as a team in program history!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/9DMETV7W8T

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 10, 2022

 
Game Information – High Point vs. James Madison
Millis Center | High Point, N.C.
Wednesday, September 14^th | 3:00 PM
Watch | Live Stats
 
Clear Bag/Metal Detector Policy at Millis
Only clear bags will be permitted for HPU events. All other bags will be subject to search before entry. In addition to bag checks, fans will be required to walk through metal detectors prior to entry for the scheduled event.
 
Last Season with the Panthers
High Point finished a 24-7 campaign in 2021 where the Big South Regular Season Champions ran through the league with a 15-1 record. The Panthers fell in the Big South Tournament Championship in a five-set heartbreaker to Campbell.
 
Last Time Out
High Point swept the Fairfield Invitational, adding three tallies to the win column. HPU notched a 3-1 win over Sacred Heart before posting sweeps of Howard and Fairfield in the three-day event.

S3 | A kill and a block for @kathrynw21 on back-to-back plays!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/eQueRa8lCw

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 10, 2022

 
About the Dukes
James Madison is 5-3 on the season, posting wins over UAlbany, Robert Morris, Kent State, Florida A&M, and Niagra. The Dukes are led by Miette Veldman, who has posted 125 kills through eight matches while Caroline Dozier has dished out 252 assists. Jaydyn Clemmer leads JMU with 115 digs.
 
Idlebird Sets New Program-Best against Fairfield
Graduate middle blocker Gabrielle Idlebird set a new program record for single-match hitting percentage (minimum 10 attempts) on Saturday against Fairfield. Idlebird was a perfect 8-for-8 on attack attempts and finished the match 11-for-13 (.846).

S2 | We're rolling ?? @gabbyidlebird hitting 1.000 with 7 kills ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/GW9i7cQm8Y

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 10, 2022

 
Meek Posts 200^th Career Win
Head coach Ryan Meek notched his 200^th career win on Saturday as the Panthers swept the Stags. Meek has posted 90 of his wins in five years at the helm for HPU.

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Today's sweep also marks head coach @HPUVBCoach's 200th career win!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/x3oNiyrjVL

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 10, 2022

 
Maberry, Wessling Claim Big South Weekly Awards
Dylan Maberry and Jenny Wessling earned weekly awards from the conference after their performances at the Fairfield Invitational. Maberry was named the Player of the Week after posting 38 kills and hitting over .400 through the three matches while Wessling earned the Libero of the Week nod for the second time in three weeks, tallying a match-high 28 digs against Sacred Heart.
 
Palazzolo, Wessling Take First Weekly Conference Awards
Sophomores Sydney Palazzolo and Jenny Wessling earned Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Big South Conference on Monday. Palazzolo finished the week with 55 kills (5.0 kps), 37 digs, three blocks, and two service aces while Wessling posted 53 digs and three service aces.
 
Four Panthers Recognized on Preseason Team
With the Big South's preseason coaches' poll also came preseason all-conference honors. Dylan Maberry, Maria Miggins, Gabrielle Idlebird, and Sydney Palazzolo were recognized on the preseason team while Maberry was named the conference's Preseason Player of the Year and Miggins earned the Preseason Setter of the Year nod.
 
HPU Selected as Unanimous Preseason Favorite
High Point received nine first-place votes to sweep the Big South's Preseason Coaches' poll. The Panthers return five all-conference members from 2021 in Dylan Maberry (Player of the Year), Maria Miggins (Setter of the Year), Jenny Wessling (Defensive Player of the Year), Sydney Palazzolo (Freshman of the Year), and Gabrielle Idlebird.
 
New Season, New Faces
The 2022 HPU roster features nine new members with four transfers and five freshmen. Ally Van Eekeren (Creighton), Kathryn Wesolich (UCF), Jillian Ziemba (Butler), and Elaina Bohnet (Iowa Western CC) all transferred in beginning last January, while BayLea Sparks, Anna Wilson, Ella Grasson, Hannah Hawkins, and Amelia Kowalska round out the 2022 freshman class.