HPU Volleyball Falls To Radford In Five Sets On Friday

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team went five sets with Big South rival Radford, falling to the Highlanders 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 16-25, 12-15) on Friday at the Millis Center. Senior Maddie Simpson posted a double-double with a career-high five aces for the Panthers.

“Give a lot of credit to Radford,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “This was a very well-played volleyball match and Radford never quit. So many times volleyball comes down to a few key plays and they came through in those moments. We need to work on our consistency to prepare to Liberty tomorrow.”

After dropping the first set, HPU rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Radford came back to win the final two sets and take the match. Simpson had 45 assists, 18 digs, four blocks and three kills to go along with her career-high five aces. Junior Chelsea Davis once again led HPU with 24 kills and junior Kristin Heldt posted her third double-double in a row with 22 kills and 11 digs.

Cheyanne James hit .258 with 24 kills to lead Radford. She also had 15 digs and three blocks. Rachel Wiechecki had eight kills and a team-high 20 digs.

High Point dropped the first set 20-25 despite a late push. HPU rallied from an early deficit to pull within one, 20-21, after Davis put down three kills in a row. The Highlanders scored the final four points of the set to pull out the win.

Radford had set point, 24-20, in set two but the Panthers fought off four straight set points, eventually tying the match 24-24 on a kill by Heldt. Heldt put the ball on the floor two more time, winning the set for HPU 26-24.

The Panthers outhit Radford .225 to .044 in set three, cruising to a 25-19 win. Heldt and Davis had six kills each in the frame.

The Highlanders mounted their comeback in set four, winning the frame 25-16. It was a balanced attack for Radford who got kills form six different players, led by Jesse Miedema with four.

Radford would go back to James throughout the fifth set, as she had five of RU’s seven kills and hit .500 to lead them to the 15-12 win.

Sophomore Annemarie Chin recorded 18 digs while sophomore Wavie Chin added 17. Junior Katie Vincent added eight kills and six blocks.

High Point will be back in action on Saturday for a 2 p.m. match against Liberty. The Flames picked up a four-set win at Campbell on Friday night.