The High Point University volleyball team continues its road stretch with three matches at the Fairfield Tournament. The Panthers are set to face Sacred Heart, Howard, and Fairfield over the three-day event.  
 

pic.twitter.com/cVVPh6wJCE

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 5, 2022

 
GAME INFORMATION -- FAIRFIELD INVITATIONAL
High Point vs. Sacred Heart | Fairfield University RecPlex | Fairfield, Conn.
Thursday, September 8^th | 7:00 PM
Watch | Live Stats
 
High Point vs. Howard | Fairfield University RecPlex | Fairfield, Conn.
Friday, September 9^th | 5:00 PM
Watch | Live Stats
 
High Point at Fairfield | Fairfield University RecPlex | Fairfield, Conn.
Saturday, September 10^th | 4:00 PM
Watch | Live Stats
 

Game 2 coming up. We'll see you soon Panther fans ??#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/FG4HNvz8jj

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 4, 2022

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 dropped two matches to top-25 programs at No. 6 Wisconsin and against No. 24 Marquette. The Panthers took a set from the Golden Eagles as Sydney Palazzolo finished with 12 kills while Ally Van Eekeren added seven winners along with 27 assists.
 

She's crafty like that @AllyVanEekeren #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/PJC2NfrwLl

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 5, 2022

 
About the Pioneers
Sacred Heart is 2-4 on the season, boasting a five-set win over Winthrop as well as a 3-0 sweep of Holy Cross. Camryn Luginbuhl leads the Pioneers with 67 kills through six matches while Sarah Ciszek has dished out 208 assists. Head coach Rob Machan has been with Sacred Heart since 2007 and is seeking his fourth-straight Northeast Conference championship.
 
About the Bison
Howard is 2-3 in 2022, picking up wins over George Mason and Georgetown before dropping three straight to Tulane, Ohio, and Kansas City at the Green Wave Classic in New Orleans. Jennifer Bolden leads a balanced attack for the Bison, posting a team-high 46 kills through five matches while Tamar Wells (41), Cimone Woodard (38), and Dami Awojobi (38) follow closely behind. Bison head coach Shaun Kupferberg is in his 10^th season at Howard.
 
About the Stags
Fairfield is 4-2 on the season, posting wins over Eastern Michigan, New Hampshire, Lafayette, and most recently, a five-set thriller over Villanova. The Stags are led offensively by KJ Johnson with 67 kills while Blakely Montogomery has passed out 170 assists with nine aces through six matches.
 

ROOF @sydpal2 x @gabbyidlebird pic.twitter.com/Ct75XOloEW

— HPU Volleyball (@HPUVB) September 5, 2022

 
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.