HPU Volleyball Bests WCU 3-0, Ups Win Streak To Five

• Senior Gabi Mirand orchestrated the HPU offense with 34 assists as five different attackers racked up at least four kills.
• The Panthers are on a five-match winning streak, which is the longest since the 2010 squad racked up eight straight wins at the end of the season.
• High Point enters conference play on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m. against Campbell in the Millis Center.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team earned its fifth consecutive straight-sets triumph at Western Carolina on Tuesday night.

The Panthers (10-6) upped their streak to 15 sets in a row as they bested the Catamounts (6-10) in the Ramsey Center (25-19, 25-14 and 25-20).

“Tonight was another really focused performance by our team,” head coach Jason Oliver said. “We were led by Haley Barnes and her effort today and we put a lot of pressure on Western Carolina and that’s been our focus the last week and a half. We did a great job of that tonight.”

Sophomore Haley Barnes produced a well-rounded performance with 12 kills and 10 digs while hitting at a .290 clip. Not to be outdone, freshman Molly Livingston registered eight kills with a .500 attack percentage. Meanwhile, freshman Abby Broadstreet tallied nine kills and eight digs.

Senior Gabi Mirand ignited the offense from her setter spot racking up 34 assists as five different Panthers tallied at least four kills while the team hit .250 on the night.

The Panthers played lights out on the defensive end holding the Catamounts to a .051 attack percentage. Senior Annemarie Chin played a key role from the back row tallying 22 digs while the front row combined for five blocks.

On the night, HPU earned a 61-51 margin in digs and a 41-29 edge in kills.

The Purple & White came out hot hitting .400 in the early going to build an 11-7 lead in the opening frame. The Catamounts fought back within two on multiple occasions, however each time the Panthers had the answer and earned a 25-19 victory. While the HPU attack slowed as the set went on, the defense held WCU to a .000 attack percentage behind Chin’s seven digs to clinch the frame.

In the second set, two early blocks helped HPU build a 6-2 edge before the home team clawed back to within one (7-6). But once again, the Panthers had the answer as four kills from Livingston sparked a 7-1 run (14-7). From there the Purple & White cruised to a 25-14 win as Barnes and Livingston registered five kills apiece.

WCU got off to a solid start in the third set and built a 9-7 edge, but two kills from Broardstreet sparked a 5-1 run that gave HPU a 12-10 lead. The Panthers never relinquished that lead and pulled away for a 25-20 win.

The Panthers will kick off Big South play on Friday night in the Millis Center against Campbell at 7:00 p.m.