HPU Volleyball Sweeps Radford in Final Home Match

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team swept Radford in the final home game of the regular season on Saturday at the Millis Center. Senior Courtney Johnk and sophomore Kristin Heldt both posted double-digit kills.

“I thought the team bounced back well from last night’s loss,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “It is always emotional on senior night but the team played with a lot energy.”

The Panthers improve to 19-9 overall and 8-4 in league play with one week remaining in the regular season. The Highlanders are 14-15 and 4-8 in Big South games.

Johnk led the team with 13 kills and Heldt added 11 kills and two blocks. Freshman Annemarie Chin came up with a match-high 16 digs and senior Molly Barlow added 12. Senior Jamie McDonald had eight kills, three blocks and a career-high three service aces.

With Radford up by one, 15-14, the Panthers went on a four-point run to take control of the first set. Heldt put down a kill to sideout for the Panthers and McDonald served a pair of aces. Radford committed an attack error to stretch HPU’s lead to 18-15. The Panthers went on to win the set 25-20. Johnk had six kills on 11 swings for HPU.

An early run gave HPU the lead in set two and the Panthers held off Radford for the rest of the frame. The Panthers turned a 5-8 deficit in to a 10-8 lead early in the second set. Barlow was at the service line for the run and served one ace. Johnk and Michelle Chakirelis also had kills in the run. HPU remained in the lead and won the set 25-20.

The Panthers cruised to a 25-15 win in set three. High Point outhit RU .273 to -.152 in the frame. Senior Stephanie Kaminskas had six digs in the set and senior Lauren Bell dished out five assists.

High Point will finish the season on the road with matches at Charleston Southern on Friday and Coastal Carolina on Saturday. HPU will face Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Panthers beat CSU 3-0 at the Millis Center on Sept. 29.