PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The High Point University volleyball team closed out the weekend trip with a matchup against No. 8 University of Pittsburgh. Keeping it close in the first two sets, the Panthers were not able to take an edge over the Pitt Panthers and fell 3-0.
Site: Fitzgerald Field House
Score: High Point 0, No. 8 Pitt 3
Records: High Point (6-5), Pitt (8-2)
It was a solid battle between both Panther teams to start the match. High Point took a 6-3 lead early after a combination of two kills from
Dylan Maberry, three errors from Pitt and a service ace by
Kea Whillock. The early jump forced Pitt to take a timeout.
Staying focused, HPU advanced to a 12-8 lead with a right side kill from
Jayde Shelton. A 5-1 run by Pitt tied the game at 15 all. Exchanging the lead two more times, the game tied up at 18 all for the last time before Pitt strung together four kills to take the team's first lead of the set at 22-19. Not able to slow the run, Pitt took the first set 25-20.
High Point started off strong in the second set as well, engaging in another 6-3 lead early with the help of kills from
BayLea Sparks and Maberry. The teams then went on to tie the game up on four different occasions before Pitt advanced on a 16-14 lead. Staying within reach, a kill from the middle by Sparks closed it to a two-point game at 20-18. Four straight kills from Pitt and a Panther error ended the set 25-18.
Entering the third set, the Panthers did not have a good offensive performance and could only land hits here and there throughout the set.
Anna Wilson and
Kennedy Louisell snagged hits at the end of the set, but it was not enough to close the gap, falling 25-12.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers return to High Point to host Radford University to open the Big South conference season play. The first serve is set for 7:00 pm.
#GoHPU
