• HPU extends win streak to four matches with 3-2 win over Sam Houston State.
• Junior setter Gabi Mirand put down the match-winning kill in the fifth set.
• Junior libero Wavie Chin had a career-high 29 digs in the victory.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The High Point University volleyball team rallied past Sam Houston State in five sets on Saturday at the TCU Molten Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. Senior Kristin Heldt led High Point with 20 kills and junior Wavie Chin had a career-high 29 digs.
High Point brought up match-point four times in the final set, finally securing the win on a clever dump kill by junior setter Gabi Mirand. Mirand finished the match with 53 assists, 11 digs, four blocks, three kills and two aces.
“The whole match came down to two plays at the end,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “We found a way to make the tough plays today when we struggled with that earlier in the season. Sam Houston State had one player, Devene Wells-Gibson, who went crazy against us but we kept fighting and never surrendered.”
Heldt hit .341 with 20 kills and 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Freshman Barnes added 16 kills and senior Chelsea Davis posted 14 kills and three blocks. Wavie Chin tallied a career-high 29 digs and five assists.
Wells-Gibson led Sam Houston State with 33 kills and hit .312 in the match.
High Point hit .233 as a team while Sam Houston State hit .168 in the match. HPU held the advantage in digs (84-82) and blocks (11.5-7) in the defensive battle.
The Panthers fell behind Sam Houston State 2-1 in the match. In the must-win fourth set Heldt took control and scored four of HPU’s final five points to spur the Panthers to a 25-23 win. One of Heldt’s kills brought up set point, 24-21, but the Bearkats got back within one, 24-23. Mirand went back to Heldt for the final point and HPU won 25-23.
It was once again Heldt to brought up match point with a kill, 14-13, in the final set. It was the first of four match points as Sam Houston State continued to side out and keep the match alive. Mirand found Davis who put the ball away and staked HPU to a 18-17 lead. On the next play Mirand saw the opening herself and dumped the ball in for the 19-17 victory.
High Point has won four-straight matches to improve to 6-6 on the season. The Panthers are 2-0 in the TCU Molten Invitational and will face the host team, TCU, tonight at 8 p.m.