HPU Panthers Volleyball Dispatch Of Eagles In Three Sets

• For the third consecutive match, sophomore Camryn Freiberg registered double-digit kills with 13 on the evening.
• Junior Megan Kennedy posted a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs.
• HPU concludes its participation in the Red Flash Classic tomorrow against St. Francis (Pa.) and Fordham at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

LORETTO, Pa. – The High Point University volleyball team opened the Red Flash Classic in style with a 3-0 win over Coppin State on Friday at St. Francis (Pa.).

With 13 kills apiece, sophomore Camryn Freiberg and junior Megan Kennedy led the Panthers (7-6) to a straight-sets triumph over the Eagles (1-9).

“Today was a great team win,” head coach Jason Oliver said. “Coppin State played good volleyball and made a lot of high-level plays. Thankfully, we were able to string points together and stay focused the entire match. Everyone in a Panthers’ uniform showed that, when focused, we are a tough to beat.”

Kennedy racked up a double-double by combining her 13 kills with 10 digs. Meanwhile, Freiberg tallied her 13 kills in just 25 attack attempts to post a .400 attack percentage. Sophomore Carly Jimenez (24 assists) and senior Gabi Mirand (13 assists) split time at setter as the Purple & White hit .234 on the evening.

As she’s done all season, senior Annemarie Chin anchored the defense with a match-high 16 digs as HPU held Coppin State to a .194 hitting percentage. In the middle, freshman Molly Livingston registered seven kills and one block while redshirt-junior Savannah Angel tallied three blocks to go with four kills.

The Panthers came out of the gate hot and took an 11-5 lead behind an ace and two kills from freshman Abby Broadstreet. The Eagles fought back to within one (12-11), but HPU responded with an extended 13-6 run to close out the set (25-17).

Coppin State kept the second set close throughout and took a 23-22 lead late in the frame. However, the Purple & White tallied the next three points and took the set 25-23 on Freiberg’s seventh kill of the frame.

In the third set, HPU leaped out to an 8-4 advantage before the Eagles soared into the lead with an 8-1 run (12-9). The Panthers chipped away and knotted the score at 15-all before a kill from Freiberg allowed High Point to regain the lead (16-15). From there, the Purple & White didn’t relinquish the lead and held on for a 25-21 win.

The Panthers will be back in action twice tomorrow in the Red Flash Classic when they play host St. Francis (Pa.) at 1 p.m. and Fordham at 4:30 p.m.