HPU Volleyball Tops UNC Greensboro In Five Sets

HIGH POINT, N.C. – After UNC Greensboro came back from two down to force a fifth set, the High Point University volleyball team topped the Spartans, 15-8, in the deciding frame to take a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night at the Millis Center. Senior Courtney Johnk and sophomore Chelsea Davis each had 18 kills for the Panthers.

Davis had a career-high in kills (18) and digs (23) in the Panthers’ 3-2 (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 26-28, 15-8) win over UNC Greensboro. Senior Molly Barlow also posted a career-high 30 digs. HPU is 4-0 in five-set matches this season.

“It wasn’t a pretty win but we will take it,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “UNC Greensboro did a good job of forcing us out of system in the middle sets. We showed a lot of determination in return and it was enough to get the win.”

Davis had four of her kills in the fifth set including one to bring up match point, 14-8. Barlow went back to the service line and put down an ace to win the match. High Point is 5-3 on the season while UNC Greensboro drops to 3-1 with its first loss.

UNCG opened the match with a 5-1 lead which the Panthers erased to hold a 16-11 advantage at the first timeout. The Panthers pushed their lead to seven points, 23-16, on an ace by Johnk. High Point won the set 25-18. HPU outhit the Spartans .314 to .059 in the frame.

High Point closed the second set on a 12-1 run to beat the Spartans 25-19. UNC Greensboro had an 18-13 lead over the Panthers when Johnk put down a kill to sideout for the Panthers. Johnk went back to the service line and HPU scored 10 straight points. Jamie McDonald had the final kill of the frame to win the set for HPU.

The third set was a reversal for the Panthers, who trailed early but allowed UNC Greensboro to take the set late. HPU made 10 attack errors and hit .000 in the frame. The Panthers 16-12 lead disappeared with a service error and four straight attack errors. UNCG took advantage of High Point’s miscues and held on to win the set 25-20.

UNC Greensboro pushed HPU until the end in the fourth set, coming away with a 28-26 win to tie the match 2-2. A kill by Davis knotted the score 26-26 but she followed it with an error to give the Spartans set point. Karrian Chambers put down a kill to win the set for UNC Greensboro.

Sophomore Kristin Heldt finished the match with 13 kills and freshman Annemarie Chin came up with 14 digs. Sophomore Caity Farus added eight kills and three blocks.

This weekend the Panthers will host the High Point University Classic at the Millis Center. George Mason, Loyola Marymount and Virginia Tech will make the trip to High Point. The tournament begins with a match between HPU and George Mason on Saturday at 7 p.m.