High Point Volleyball Earns First Ever NCAA Tournament At-Large Berth

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team was selected to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid during the event’s selection show on Sunday night. The Panthers will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to take on Purdue on Thursday.

The Purple & White (24-7) rode a 19-match winning streak from the middle of September on into November before falling in the Big South Championship match against Radford on Nov. 19.

With the selection, High Point is the first Big South volleyball team to collect an at-large berth into the field. It marks the program’s third NCAA Tournament selection after the team garnered the Big South’s automatic bids in 2010 and 2016. Meanwhile, it’s the first time HPU has advanced to the national tournament in back-to-back seasons.

“I am so thrilled four our team, especially the seniors. I was heartbroken for them when we lost in the conference finals because they are deserving of continuing their season.” head coach Tom Mendoza said. “It’s obviously a huge step for the program and a great accomplishment to be the first Big South volleyball program to receive an at-large bid.”

The Panthers finished the season ranked No. 45 in the RPI, giving the 2017 squad the program’s top eight marks off all-time while collecting the school’s first at-large bid since moving to Division I competition.

In their previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, HPU has fallen in three sets at Duke (2010) and at North Carolina (2016).

Stay tuned to HighPointPanthers.Com for more details.