HPU Volleyball Sweeps North Carolina A&T at HPU Classic

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team swept North Carolina A&T Friday at the Millis Center in the first match of the HPU Classic. Senior Maddie Simpson put up 30 assists and junior Chelsea Davis tallied her fourth double-double of the season.

“It was a good match for us to start the tournament,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “It was great to get everyone on the roster some playing time and see them all work in our system and with rhythm. ”

Davis posted a double-double with a match-high 17 kills and 11 digs. Simpson had two blocks and one kill to go with her match-high 20 assists. Sophomore Annemarie Chin led all players with 19 digs.

Jillian Nobles led the Aggies with seven kills while Ashley Johnson led the team with 10 digs.

The Panthers improve to 5-7 with the 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-14) while North Carolina A&T falls to 1-12.

The Panthers took their first lead of the opening set, 7-6, on a kill by Davis from Simpson. HPU slowly extended its lead, opening up a five-point cushion at 19-14 after another Davis kill. A bad set by North Carolina A&T’s Liz Martino brought up set point for the Panthers, 24-19. The Aggies fought off one set point before sophomore Kristin Heldt ended the frame with a kill.

Davis had seven kills on 13 swings in the second set to spur HPU to a 25-17 victory. Simpson put down a kill off a great defensive play by Annemarie Chin to give HPU the 2-1 lead and the Panthers led the rest of the way.

Five different attackers had kills for the Panthers in the final set. Davis and sophomore Chelsea Blanford had four each while Heldt added three and Katie Vincent and Savannah Angel added two each. HPU hit .560 in the 25-14 win.

HPU hit .467 for the match with 49 kills and six errors. Heldt finished the match with 10 kills and freshman Val Jeffery added 16 assists.

The Panthers will continue play in the HPU Classic on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against Murray State. HPU will also face Davidson on Saturday at 7 p.m.