HPU Volleyball Starts Season 2-0 With Sweep Of South Carolina State

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The High Point University volleyball team improved to 2-0 on the season with a sweep of South Carolina State on Friday at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C. Freshman Megan Kennedy had eight kills and seven digs in the win.

“It was a very quick turnaround after the match against Florida International,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “I was proud of the way the younger girls stepped up in the second match and executed our system. They have learned a lot in the last few weeks and they showed it today. I am happy with today, now it is time to prepare for a big game against South Carolina tomorrow.”

Junior Chelsea Davis tallied double-digit kills for the second straight match with 10 against South Carolina State. She also had three digs and three blocks. Freshman Val Jeffery put up 20 assists in her collegiate debut.

The Panthers outhit South Carolina State .278 to 024 in the 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-16). The win moves HPU to 2-0 to start the 2013 season.

S.C. State led the Panthers 20-19 in the first set. Davis put down a kill to tie the set and then went back to the service line where she helped HPU rattle off five straight points to win the frame, 25-20. Davis had three aces in the run.

HPU trailed South Carolina State in the second set as well, 14-16, before a seven-point run put the Panthers ahead 21-16. HPU held the lead and won the set 25-18 on a kill by Kennedy.

High Point led the entire third set, rolling to a 25-16 win, and a sweep of South Carolina State. Junior Katie Vincent had three kills and one blocks in the final frame.

Vincent finished the match with five kills and four blocks and sophomore Annemarie Chin

The Panthers will face tournament-host South Carolina on Saturday at 3 p.m.