Knoxville, Tenn. – Playing in the first round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament for the second consecutive season, High Point took on the No. 11 Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Friday night in the Food City Center. The Panthers season came to a close after competing through three sets with Tennessee.
"I don't know how much more I could've asked for out of this season," Head Coach
Ryan Meek stated. "We went undefeated in conference with a brand-new group of players and we didn't really lose many games except to top-15 or power five teams. This group has fought for each other and battled together and sometimes as a coach you get a team that really allows you to enjoy coaching and this team was definitely that."
Site: Food City Center
Score: High Point 0, Tennessee 3
Records: High Point (23-8 14-0), Tennessee (25-4, 15-3)
HPU laid it all out on the floor in the fight against a top ranked power five opponent.
Dylan Maberry and
Christine Graf led the night on the outside each knocking in 10 kills apiece.
The first and third sets witnessed a combined eight tie ups and six lead changes between the two teams.
Jordyn Schilling contributed to an early tie at 10 all in the first set with one of her two service aces. Down the stretch, a Maberry kill put the Panthers within two at 22-20. Two kills from the Lady Volunteers and an attack error by the Panthers gave UT the final point in set one.
Tennessee jumped out in the second set 4-0 but the Panthers didn't let the Lady Volunteers extend their run, keeping it close at 13-9 with a kill by
Eve Wilson in the middle.
The Panthers racked up big blocks in the second set. A solo block by
Allie Gray and a double block by Maberry and Wilson made it 23-18. Tennessee took set two in the end, 25-19.
In set three the Panthers opened the set fired up. Kills from Maberry and Wilson put HPU up 7-6. Hitting a momentum block, the Lady Volunteers went on a 6-1 run to go up 12-8 on the Panthers.
After falling behind 20-13, High Point was only able to score two more points, both by kills from
Kennedy Louisell on the outside attack.
The 2023 season witnessed another historical season for the purple and white. Boasting another 20+ winning season with another conference regular season title, a conference tournament title to reach the team's goal of making it to the NCAA Tournament.
"This season meant a lot to me since it was my last season playing," Graf commented after the game. "I had something to play for so it was more special to me. It was a great way to finish because I think we all just went for it. Personally, I wanted to lay everything out there tonight. Volleyball has been a big part of my life and I've put a lot of work and time into this sport. I've built a lot of relationships and its just been the best. I'm glad I got to have my fifth year with High Point and I'm sad to go but it's been a good ride."
#GoHPU
