RADFORD, Va. – The High Point University Panthers volleyball team opened Big South Conference play with a statement on the road. After a dominant performance all around, HPU cruised to a quick 3-0 sweep over the Highlanders of Radford University.
 
"A great, complete win for us tonight," Head Coach Ryan Meek stated. "Everyone who touched the court contributed and carried the load. We are starting to figure things out with our young group at a perfect time."
 
Site: Dedmon Center
Score: High Point 3, Radford 0
Records: High Point (4-7, 1-0), Radford (3-11, 0-1)
 
How it Happened:
 
After experiencing some tough games on the road during the non-conference season, the Panthers locked in for game one of conference play. Opening set one, HPU was led on the attack by the duo of Élodie Lalonde and Maya Bukovcan, each picking up three kills a piece with perfect assists from Remy Catojo.
 
High Point heated up quick, with a 6-2 lead, created by tough hits that caused turnovers from the Highlanders. A strong kill in the middle from Addison Freeland gave the Panthers a nine-point lead, 13-4, mid-way through the set.
 
HPU kept the offense rolling as Lalonde railed off two back-to-back kills after Catojo put down her own kill on the right side. The three straight kills held High Point's nine-point lead as the Panthers led 17-8. HPU closed out the set with a 7-1 run, led by Bukovcan with two blocks at the net to take the first set, 25-11.
 
In set two, High Point had a slower start compared to set one but picked it up after a Radford service error to take a 5-4 lead. From there the Panthers went on a 4-0 run to go up 9-4 early.
 
High Point continued to gain points from all areas of the front row and extended its lead back up to eight, 17-9. Radford attempted to make a run and brought the game back within five points with a 4-1 run of their own.
 
Catojo set up Bukovcan in the middle which resulted in an easy kill to make it 20-14. Radford tacked on two points to make it 20-16, but an Ella Grace Holloway kill fueled a late run for HPU, making it hard for the Highlanders to make up ground. High Point took set two, 25-16.
 
Set three, the match saw more back and forth action on the score board through the first half of the set. Radford held a steady lead up until its 9-8 advantage. High Point made a run after picking up a kill on the outside, right side, and middle and increased its lead to 14-10.
 
Radford picked up one point with a kill before the flood gates opened and High Point dominated to put away the match. A 7-0 run, led by Lalonde with four service aces and a kill gave the Panthers a 21-11 lead.
 
High Point continued to cruise through the final points of the set and witnessed kills from Gabby Hill and Ryley Boyne at the end to help the Panthers win 25-15 in the third set.
 
The Panthers swept the Highlanders to open conference play and were victorious by nine-plus points in each set.
 
 
Extra Stats:

• Bukovcan and Lalonde led the match with eight kills apiece and combined for nine blocks, led by Bukovcan with seven.
• Catojo and Gray combined for 26 assists during the match in the Panthers 6-2 formation.
• Catojo also picked up four kills on a .600 hitting night.
• Lalonde dropped in a career-high five service aces to guide the Panthers to a game-high 10.
• Sydney McKay directed the back line as the libero and picked up seven digs.

 
UP NEXT:
High Point finally returns to the Millis Center to host its first home game of the season next week against Winthrop on October 3 at 6:00 p.m. Follow along with live updates on X (@HPUVB).