MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – High Point volleyball plays in the team's final invitational of the 2023 season. Traveling up to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Panthers will compete in the Diet Coke Classic, with matchups against No. 9 ranked University of Minnesota and No. 14 Creighton University. HPU rounds out the weekend against No. 8 ranked University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.
 
"We always say we will schedule anyone, anywhere and this weekend is a prime example of that," head coach Ryan Meek stated. "We take on three top-15 teams in the space of 72 hours in two different cities."
 
At the Diet Coke Classic, this will be the Panthers first time playing the Gophers and Bluejays in program history. High Point and Pitt are familiar opponents, playing each other three times in the past five seasons, with the most recent being in 2022 when HPU hosted the Panthers in the Millis Center.
 
"When the opportunity came to take Christine home to Minnesota and play two of the elite programs in the country, we couldn't say no," Meek added. "We had also talked with Pitt about that weekend and when we asked our girls if they wanted to add a trip to Pitt, they jumped at the chance."
 
High Point enters the weekend coming off a five-game hot streak. A five-set win over Wofford on Tuesday, September 5, ignited the fire for the High Point Invitational. A sweep over ETSU and a 3-1 win over undefeated Davidson College closed out the week on a high note. The Panthers are currently 6-3 overall and No. 1 in the Big South.
 
"This will be our last tune up weekend before we head into conference play," Meek commented. "I like the way the team is gelling and growing together, and we've been able to develop because of the schedule we've played so far. I know we're all looking forward to the challenge of this weekend."
 
The Diet Coke Classic will be streamed on the Big10+ network. Thursday's game will be ticketed, and Friday will be free admission. The game on Sunday at Pitt is a ticketed event and will be streamed on the ACCN+.