HIGH POINT, N.C. – On Friday night, the High Point University volleyball team returned to the Millis Center after being on the road for three games to welcome Gardner-Webb in the first meeting of the season. The Panthers defeated the Runnin' Bulldogs 3-1.
"I thought Gardner Webb came in prepared and challenged us at a high level," Head Coach
Ryan Meek stated. "We did not respond well initially but I thought as the first set started to unfold, we started playing better. We were lights out defensively and blocking in sets 2-4 and I think we wore down their offense with our size. Now we face Winthrop tomorrow and need to repeat that performance."
Site: Millis Center
Score: High Point 3, Gardner-Webb 1
Record: High Point (10-5,4-0 Big South), Gardner-Webb (11-7, 2-2)
After dropping the opening set, High Point bounced back strong, winning each of the next three sets by 10+ points. Élodie Lalonde led the Panthers with 15 kills on a .414 hitting percentage followed by
Maya Bukovcan with 12 kills and
Gabby Hill with 10 kills, each hitting over .300.
In set two, HPU set out on multiple runs going on a 4-0 run early, followed by a 7-0 run to lead 17-8. In the mix of the 7-0 run,
Grace Killion was behind the service line and landed two aces out of her seven serves. Another four-point run gave the Panthers a 10-point lead at 21-11 to help seal the deal. Bukovcan secured the final point to take set one, 25-14.
After tying the set at 4-4 in the third, HPU stretched out on another 7-0 run with Bukovcan serving. The Panthers strong offense kept Gardner-Webb out of system allowing for HPU to continue scoring points.
Kea Whillock led a 5-0 run to put High Point up 19-7. The Panthers held the Runnin' Bulldogs to under 10 points by the set point as HPU led 24-9. Bukovcan again put down the set point to win set three 25-10.
Going into set four, the Panthers kept their momentum and quickly stretched the lead. A double block from
Jasmine Oduro and
Talia Lardner made it 12-6 in favor of HPU. The fourth set witnessed another 7-0 run led by Hill with three kills of her own to lead 23-10. Kinnady Booth secured High Point's 24th point before a GWU attack error ended the match with HPU winning set four, 25-13.
HPU dominated on the block, picking up 10 blocks as a team to Gardner-Webb's two. Bukovcan and Oduro combined for 10 block assists on the night.
UP NEXT: High Point returns to the Millis Center on Saturday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m. to host Winthrop University.
#GoHPU
