VILLANOVA, Pa. – The High Point University volleyball team hit the road for another early season tournament at the Villanova Classic. Starting off the three-day weekend, the Panthers matched up with Fairfield University and after battling through five sets, HPU fell 3-2.
 
Site:  Jake Nevin Field house
Score: High Point 2, Fairfield 3
Records: High Point (1-3), Fairfield (3-1)
 
How it Happened:
 
It was a slow start for the Panthers, but the team quickly caught a hot streak and kept the attack rolling. High Point trailed 5-1 early, then took a 6-0 run to go up 7-5 with an outside kill form Ryley Boyne.
 
From there, HPU scored three straight points to go up 15-10 and force a timeout by Fairfield. The Panthers extended its lead to eight with a kill from Gia Padilla and a double block from Maya Bukovcan and Ella Grace Holloway. High Point held the lead and took set one, 25-19.
 
The Panthers got out to another slow start, struggling to stop the Fairfield offense and get their own offense flowing. HPU trailed 10-5 early.
 
A kill from Maya Bukovcan in the middle broke Fairfield's run after taking advantage of a free ball. The Panthers picked up four points with two kills from Padilla and two hitting errors from Fairfield to trail 16-12.
 
The teams continued to exchange points as Fairfield led 22-16. High Point had a turnaround and scored seven straight points to tie the set at 22 all with a double block from Bukovcan and Brooke Jeffrey. Jeffrey then hammered down a kill on the outside to make it 24-23, trailing by one. Fairfield secured the final set point with a kill.
 
The Panthers jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the third set. Freshman Talia Lardner got her first collegiate kill on the right side to make it 9-5. HPU held the lead and kept to a 15-12 advantage with a Fairfield service error. Holding the lead, the Panthers forced a Fairfield time out, leading 19-14.
 
Fairfield put the pressure on High Point cutting the gsme to within two points, 22-20. HPU prevailed and took set three, 25-21 after securing the last three points, ending with a kill from Remy Catojo.
 
In set four, HPU's middle hitters got the Panthers off to a strong start, taking a 9-6 lead with the help of Bukovcan and Freeland. Maintaining a three-to-four-point lead through the middle of the set. Fairfield gained momentum and changed the course of the set, tying it at 15 all. A 6-0 run for Fairfield gave the Stags a 19-15 lead. It took a few serves before the Panthers bounced back. An outside kill from Boyne sparked a 6-0 run for High Point gaining back the lead 23-22.
 
An attack error from Fairfield forced the set to go extra points. Tied up at 25 all, Fairfield scored two points to take the set 27-25 and force a fifth set.
 
Fairfield picked up where they left off in the fourth set and stretched on a 6-2 lead. Not getting rattled, the Panthers stayed in the game with a kill from Élodie Lalonde to trail 7-4. High Point continued to battle, and eventually tied the set at 12 all after Fairfield failed on an attack.
 
Fairfield scored the next two points to go up 14-12 with a possible match point in sight. Boyne connected on a pass from Catojo and sailed one in to make it 14-13 with the serve back. Unable to connect in the next possession, the Panthers fell 15-13 in the final set, falling 3-2 to the Stags.
 
 
UP NEXT:
High Point remains at the Villanova Classic and will play Yale at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6. Tune in on YouTube Live or follow along with live updates on X (@HPUVB).