SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The High Point Panthers rounded out a road streak with the team's ninth sweep since starting conference play. Earning the 3-0 victory over the Spartans of USC Upstate, HPU remains undefeated in sets with a 27-0 set record against Big South opponents.
Site: G.B. Hodge Center
Score: High Point 3, USC Upstate 0
Records: High Point (16-6, 9-0), USC Upstate (11-10, 4-5)
Dylan Maberry initiated the attack for the Panthers earning some early kills. Tying the game at eight all with a kill from
BayLea Sparks, the Spartans soon took a 14-10 lead over HPU. Back-to-back kills from Sparks and Maberry cut it to 14-12. A three-point stretch from USC Upstate followed by a three-point stretch from High Point made it 20-16 with the Spartans still in the lead.
Christine Graf showed up and showed out late in the first set. Putting the team on her back, she contributed to five kills for five of HPU's last eight points of the set. The Panthers forced three timeouts by USC Upstate. Tying the game at 24 all, the set went extra points after two kills and a block by Maberry secured the 27-25 win.
After an exciting first set and battle back for the Panthers, HPU dominated in the second set. Cruising to an 18-12 lead with a service ace from Maberry, High Point pushed on to a 23-15 lead with a kill from Graf.
Jayde Shelton punched one in to earn the match point for the Panthers for the 25-17 win.
In the early points of the third set, the set tied on eight occasions before the Panthers decided to take the game into their own hands. Pushing on to a six-point lead at 23-17, HPU collected kills and service aces, including a kill from
Allie Gray on a skip set attack. Needing two more points to take the match, HPU went through rough waters with five attack errors to bring the game back to within one-point. Sparks and Maberry finished the game to earn the 25-23 win and a 3-0 sweep.
UP NEXT:
High Point returns to the Millis Center on Friday, October 27 for a matchup with Gardner-Webb. The first serve is set for 6:00 P.M.
#GoHPU
