HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team picked up its second win over an ACC team this season with a 3-1 victory over Virginia Tech in the final game of the HPU Classic at the Millis Center on Saturday. Freshman Annemarie Chin was named the Tournament MVP after she posted a career-high 23 digs in the win over the Hokies.
“I am really excited about the way we responded tonight,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Virginia Tech is a really good team and they will win a lot of games this season. We got big-time plays from every person on the court to win this game. We played our best match of the season. It was really fun to see it all come together and see the team click.”
High Point improves to 7-4 with its second win over a team from the ACC. The Panthers also beat Wake Forest at the Millis Center on Aug. 28.
Annemarie Chin bested her career-high for the second straight night, coming up with 23 digs in the win to earn HPU Classic MVP honors. Sophomore Chelsea Davis was also named to the All-Tournament team. She hit .345 with 13 kills, five digs and two blocks against Virginia Tech.
The Panthers hit .455 in the first set to beat Virginia Tech 25-21. Redshirt-sophomore Maddie Simpson spread the ball around and Kristin Heldt, Michelle Chakirelis, Davis and Courtney Johnk put down three kills each. Jamie McDonald chipped in two kills and an ace in the frame. HPU held on to a one-point lead, 19-18, after a Virginia Tech kill. A kill by McDonald gave HPU a two-point cushion which was all the Panthers needed as the teams traded points the rest of the way. The Panthers won the set 25-21 on a kill by Heldt.
Virginia Tech just edged High Point, 34-32, in an intense second set. There were 10 set points in the frame but the Hokies held on to win and even the match 1-1. Virginia Tech setter Jordan Fish dumped the ball over to give the Hokies a 33-32 advantage and they won on an HPU attack error. Heldt had five kills in the frame while Chakirelis, Davis and Johnk had four each to continue HPU’s balanced attack.
High Point minimized their mistakes in the third set and beat the Hokies 25-21. Chakirelis and Johnk combined on a block to give HPU the lead, 14-13, which they held for the duration of the set. Heldt served an ace to bring up set point for the Panthers 24-19. Virginia Tech fought off two set points before Davis won the set with her 10th kill of the night.
The Panthers won the fourth set 25-20, outhitting Virginia Tech .424 to .156 in the frame. Heldt put down five kills on 10 swings to lead the Panthers. Her final kill of the night gave HPU a 23-19 lead in the final set. Johnk had the final two kills of the match to win the set 25-20.
Heldt finished the night with 17 kills and a .350 attack percentage. Johnk added 12 and Chakirelis hit .500 with 11 kills and four blocks. Simpson totaled 53 assists and senior Stephanie Kaminskas recorded 11 digs.
High Point will hit the road for the next six games. First up is a 7 p.m. match at Elon on Tuesday.