HPU Volleyball Drops Five-Set Match to Eastern Washington

• Senior Chelsea Davis posted her second double-double of the season with 20 kills and 16 digs.
• Senior Kristin Heldt also had a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs for the night.
• High Point is 1-1 in five-set matches this season.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team dropped a five-set match to visiting Eastern Washington on Friday at the Millis Center. The Panthers went ahead 2-0 in the match but couldn’t hold off a confident EWU team late in the game. Seniors Chelsea Davis and Kristin Heldt both posted double-doubles.

“We made too many errors to beat a good team,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “We were in control in the first two sets but Eastern Washington is consistent and felt confident after a five-set win at College of Charleston. This is a great match to learn from early in the season and it will mentally prepare us for very similar Big South teams.”

Davis led all players with 20 kills and 16 digs. Heldt hit .258 with 11 kills and 10 digs in the match. Junior Gabi Mirand tallied 46 assists and eight digs while junior Wavie Chin added 20 digs.

High Point won a tight first set, 26-24, on a kill from Mirand. The Panthers kept momentum in the second set with a 25-21 win. Eastern Washington recovered with a 25-20 win in set three that swung the momentum to the Eagles bench. As the match progressed the Panthers attack percentage went down, hitting .103 in the fourth set and .067 in the fifth, allowing EWU to take the five-set victory.

Kelsey Julian and Allie Schumacher led the Eagles with 14 kills each. Nicole Rigoni tallied 28 assists and eight digs.

High Point will go for its first home win on Sunday against Western Carolina at 2 p.m. The Catamounts are 1-3 on the season with a win over Georgia State.