CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University volleyball team swept Presbyterian to open up its Big South Conference slate on Friday night.
Sydney Palazzolo and
Dylan Maberry combined for 23 kills for HPU in the victory.
Site: Templeton Center
Score: High Point 3 (25, 25, 26), Presbyterian 0 (16, 20, 24)
Records: High Point (8-6, 1-0), Presbyterian (4-10, 0-2)
High Point strung together a 7-2 run early in the first set to take the 10-7 lead behind three kills from
Ally Van Eekeren and another from Palazzolo.
Holding a 12-10 lead, the Panthers scored nine of the next 12 points to hold the 21-12 advantage that would help them to the 25-16 set win.
HPU controlled the net early in set two, as
Gabrielle Idlebird and Van Eekeren tallied a block to pull back within 5-4 before
Kathryn Wesolich and Van Eekeren combined for the stuff to tie the match at 6-6.
The Panthers used another 7-1 run to lead 16-11 in set two with an Idlebird/
Maria Miggins block and kills from both before Idlebird stuffed another Blue Hose attacker.
Presbyterian responded by rattling off six straight points of their own, but High Point maintained its composure by scoring six of the last seven points to take the 2-0 lead. Four Panthers had kills in the run while Van Eekeren notched two service aces.
The third set featured runs by both teams, but neither was able to take a commanding lead to control the set. HPU took a 9-6 lead early behind kills from Maberry and Wesolich before a
Megan Kratzer service ace finished off the 4-0 HPU run.
With Presbyterian leading 24-22, the Panthers finished off the match with a 4-0 run with a Palazzolo kills and three straight Maberry winners to take the final set, 26-24.
#GoHPU
