HPU Volleyball Picks Up Big South Win At Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team beat Gardner-Webb 3-1 (25-12. 16-25, 25-16, 25-22) on Saturday in Boiling Springs, N.C. Junior Kristin Heldt had 18 kills to lead three Panthers in double-digit kills.

“This was a very well-played volleyball match,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Both teams fought to the end and I am proud of my team for responding after a tought match last night. Kristin gave us exactly what we needed, a fantastic offensive match.”

Heldt hit .261 with 18 kills, seven digs and three aces. Junior Chelsea Davis tallied 14 kills, nine digs and one block. Junior Katie Vincent hit .364 with 10 kills and three blocks. Sophomore Annemarie Chin had a match-high 21 digs.

Erin Anderson, Brianna Starr and Emily Holte had seven kills each for Gardner-Webb. Anna Pashkova tallied 18 digs.

The Panthers improve to 12-13 with the win and 6-4 in Big South play. GWU stands at 15-13 overall and 6-4 against league opponents.

The Panthers hit .310 in the first set, rolling to a 25-12 win. Heldt served an ace off Katie Loftin to put the Panthers ahead 10-5 and force an early GWU timeout. The Runnin’ Bulldogs rattled off three-straight points after the gap to close the lead to 10-8. Megan Kennedy went cross court for a kill to side out for the Panthers and start a 5-0 run.

HPU built a 17-9 lead in the opening set and GWU tried to stop the momentum with its second timeout. The Panthers finished the frame with an 8-3 run to win 25-12. Gardner-Webb hit -.100 in the set.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs evened the match with a 25-16 win in set two. Four-straight High Point errors gave Gardner-Webb a 8-3 lead early in the frame. It was the only lead they needed as they went on to win by nine, holding HPU to .030 hitting in the set. Heldt put down seven kills for the Panthers but the rest of the team only had four.

The Panthers regrouped in set three, getting a 25-16 win and going up in the match 2-1. HPU hit .306 in the frame with 15 kills. Simpson dished out 11 assists in the set, spreading the ball around as Heldt and Davis each had five kills and Vincent had four.

High Point held on for a close, 25-22 win in the fourth and final set. The frame was tied 19-19 and HPU went ahead on a kill by Vincent. Vincent and Davis combined for a block to give HPU a 21-19 lead. Holte had back-to-back kills to once again tie the set, 21-21. High Point called timeout and finished the frame on a 4-1 run to win the set 25-22.

Senior Maddie Simpson finished the match with 45 assists, eight digs and two blocks. Redshirt-freshman Savannah Angel added nine kills and two blocks.

High Point travels to Liberty on Friday for a 7 p.m. match at the Vines Center. The Panthers topped Liberty 3-0 at High Point earlier this season.