CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University volleyball team traveled to Presbyterian College on Saturday afternoon for a Big South Conference matchup. After dropping the first set, HPU rolled through the next three sets to win 3-1 over the Blue Hose.
"I don't think we approached this match with the focus and effort that we needed to," Head Coach
Ryan Meek stated. "Presbyterian took advantage of that right away and played great. I thought we were more ourselves in sets 2-4 but we need to stop approaching matches with the wrong attitude."
Site: Templeton Center
Score: High Point 3, Presbyterian 1
Record: High Point (13-5,7-0 Big South), Presbyterian (8-13, 2-5 Big South)
Élodie Lalonde and
Gabby Hill each posted double figure kills while
Maya Bukovcan added nine kills and nine total blocks.
Remy Catojo dished out 39 assists and
Kea Whillock picked up 12 digs. As a team the Panthers dominated on the service ace and the block, collecting 10 aces and 17 blocks.
After falling in set one, 25-23 High Point turned it around in the next three sets. In the second set the Panthers set out on a 5-0 run fueled by three straight service aces from Bukovcan to go up 11-6. HPU continued to extend its lead to 14-6.
Sydney McKay secured the 20th point with an ace of her own to lead by 10+ points, 20-9. The Panthers went on to score the next five points to take the set and hold the Blue Hose to just two points to win 25-11.
In the third set, High Point exploded on a run early after tying the set at 2-2. A 6-0 run gave the Panthers an 8-3 advantage.
Talia Lardner made it 13-7 with a right side kill. Presbyterian found a rhythm and closed the gap to 13-11 with four straight points. Another 6-0 run for the Panthers with kills from Bukovcan,
Addison Freeland and Catojo made it 23-14.
Gabby Hill put down the last two points of the set from outside kills to win 25-17.
High Point took a 6-1 early lead in set four after Lalonde hammered down back-to-back kills to start the run. Bukovcan and Catojo connected on back-to-back double blocks to make it 9-3. HPU continued to dominate on the attack as Catojo secured a kill before dishing out two assists to Hill to lead 20-13. Hill put down another kill followed by two double blocks from the Panthers. Two service errors from Presbyterian resulted in a win for the Panthers, 25-18.
UP NEXT: High Point returns home to the Millis Center on October 23 to start the second half of conference play. The Panthers will host UNC Asheville at 6:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
