HIGH POINT, N.C. — The top two teams in the Big South battled for the 2023 Big South Championship title inside the Millis Center on Sunday afternoon. After an exciting five sets in front of a packed house, the Panthers defended their Championship title earning the team's fourth Big South Tournament win in head coach
Ryan Meek's era and the second consecutive win. High Point's 3-2 victory earned an automatic qualify to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament.
"I'm just really proud of our team," Meek stated. "We've talked a lot about response and our response yesterday wasn't always great. When Winthrop defended and dug balls, I don't know that we always came to it but I think what we did always do was respond again. We've talked a lot about being tough and coming back from things and I think we did that tonight. Most teams when they lose that fourth set then the fifth set is over but we regrouped, went back out there and bombed some serves and dug up some balls and all of a sudden we're celebrating after the fifth set."
The Panthers were led by the Big South Player of the Year,
Dylan Maberry with 21 kills, 12 digs and three blocks, tagging her eighth game with 20+ kills.
Eve Wilson accompanied Maberry with 16 kills, leading the team with a .406 hit percentage.
Anna Wilson also contributed in the middle with a career-high seven kills.
Allie Gray recorded a career-high 58 assists while
Jordyn Schilling put in work on the back line with a career-high 27 digs.
Site: Millis Center
Score: High Point 3, Winthrop 2
Records: High Point (23-6, 14-0), Winthrop (14-13,12-2)
The first set of the match opened with multiple errors from both teams as the Panthers gave up five service errors. Maberry started the set early going 2-for-2 to tie the game at four all. High Point was looking for some success as
Jayde Shelton nailed one down the left side line after a free ball from the Eagles to make it 10-8. In six swings, Shelton knocked in three kills early, balancing her spot selections on the line and back corner.
A double block from
Eve Wilson and Gray extended the Panthers lead to seven at 17-10, forcing Winthrop to call a timeout. HPU pressed on and secured the first set 25-17 after a kill from
Christine Graf.
The second set was a close battle as the Eagles took their first lead at 7-6 but a strong kill from
Anna Wilson and an ace from
Regina Tijerina returned the lead to HPU. Panthers went down mid-way through the set at 17-14. HPU trailed by two in the late points of the set and with the match point on the line for the Eagles, Shelton's deep touch made it 24-23. A kill by Winthrop evened the Championship game out at 1-1.
Set three opened with an early lead for the Panthers, going up 5-1. The sixth kill of the day from
Eve Wilson extended the game to 8-1. Maberry soared from the back row, sending a shot into the cheap seats for a 13-5 lead. The Panthers continued dominating and took set three 25-11.
After cruising through the third set, the fourth set was competitive.
Eve Wilson knocked in her 14th kill of the day after back-to-back kills with a service ace mixed in from Maberry. High Point went on a 4-0 run late in the set to lead by eight at 23-15.
Winthrop went on their own run to cut the game to 23-19. After a time out by the Panthers, a nifty shot from Maberry made it 24-20. The Eagles creeped back and closed the game to 24 all. Going extra points,
Eve Wilson sent a shot straight down on the right side to tie the game at 26 all. A Panther error forced the Championship game into a fifth set after the Eagles came back and won set four 29-27.
High Point came out on fire in the fifth and final set, jumping out on an 8-1 lead. An outside kill from Graf ended the match, crowning High Point as the Big South Champs for the second year in a row at the Millis Center.
"It's been surreal and really exciting to win with my team,"
Eve Wilson stated. "I'm excited to play in the NCAA Tournament and that's been our goal since the beginning of the season."
Big South All-Tournament Team
Eve Wilson, High Point (MVP)
Jordyn Schilling, High Point
Dylan Maberry, High Point
Avery Jolley, Winthrop
Brookelynn Thomas, Winthrop
Autumn Flowers, Gardner-Webb
Hailey Grocholski, Presbyterian
UP NEXT:
High Point will travel to TCU on Tuesday for a non-conference match up in Fort Worth, Texas. The first serve is set for 2:00 pm. The team awaits the NCAA selection show wich will take place on Sunday, November 26
th at 2:00 pm.
