MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Making their way to Minnesota, the High Point Panthers volleyball team took on the No. 9 ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday night in game one of the Diet Coke Classic. After a scrappy game from HPU, the Panthers came up short 3-1 after a dominating first set.
Site: Maturi Pavilion
Score: High Point 1, No. 9 Minnesota 3
Records: High Point (6-4), Minnesota (4-3)
High Point got off to a solid start in the first set, throwing Minnesota for a loop. The Panthers did a good job of hitting high hands to miss the Gophers strong block. Diversifying the sets on the front, Panther's setter,
Allie Gray spread the love between all positions.
High Point stayed aggressive in all areas, making strong serves and powerful hits from the front and back row. A big kill from the hometown girl,
Christine Graf advanced the Panthers to a 20-15 lead. High Point took advantage of its own five service aces and Minnesota's five service errors throughout the set to secure 10 of the 25 points. After getting a little tight in the final points of the set, a smart play from
Jordyn Schilling ended the first set with a 25-22 win.
Minnesota adapted after set one and came out in the second with a fiery approach. The Panthers tried to stay scrappy on defense but strong hits from the Golden Gophers tied the overall match sets to 1-1.
Struggling to get back in the groove in the third, High Point tied the game at 16 all with a service ace from
Kea Whillock. From there, the Panthers kept the pressure on, tying the game on four occasions before the Golden Gophers took back the lead to end the set.
The fourth set was much like the second with a flat start for the Panthers.
Anna Wilson came in mid-way through and tried to help close the gap and make it 18-12 with back-to-back blocks and a kill from the middle. HPU was unable to close the deficit and fell 25-17 in the final set of the night.
Overall the Panthers had strong performances from Graf with 12 kills and
Eve Wilson with seven kills and two blocks. On the back row, Whillock, Schilling and
Regina Tijerina each had 11 digs and combined for four service aces. Gray also added four service aces herself.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers return to the Maturi Pavilion Center for more action on Friday evening, against Creighton University. The first serve is set for 6:00 PM ET.
#GoHPU
