HPU Volleyball Spooks UNC Asheville, 3-0

• The Panthers hit a season-high .333 and held a 49-27 edge in kills for the match
• Senior Kristin Heldt posted a match-high 13 kills and hit .500 to lead the HPU offense
• Junior libero Wavie Chin notched an impressive 22 digs (7.3/set) against the Bulldogs

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University volleyball team served up plenty of tricks and treats en route to a sweep of UNC Asheville (25-15, 25-12, 25-16) Friday night inside the Millis Center.

The visiting Bulldogs simply could not stop the Panthers all night, as HPU hit a season-best .333 and held sizable advantages in kills (49-27) and blocks (10.0-3.0). High Point also distributed 45 assists to Asheville’s 25 and was +26 (69-43) in the dig department.

“Our team came out really fired up against a good UNC Asheville team,” head coach Jason Oliver said. “It was awesome to see the environment in Millis and reward the fans with such great play.”

Individually, the Halloween affair was highlighted by senior Kristin Heldt, who posted a match-high 13 kills and hit. 500 while adding two solo blocks. The Frankfort, Ill., native is averaging an impressive 5.1 kills/set over HPU’s last two matches.

Freshman Camryn Freiberg hit a sizzling .533 while chipping in nine kills and five total blocks, and fellow freshman Haley Barnes tallied nine kills, 10 digs and hit .348 on the night.

Junior setter Gaby Mirand distributed 33 assists and 13 digs to register her ninth double-double of the season, while junior libero Wavie Chin posted a match-high 22 digs, which set a season high for an HPU player in a three set match this season.

The Panthers raced out to a 11-4 lead in the opening set and went up 20-10 on a kill from senior Chelsea Davis. Sophomore Savannah Angel punctuated the set with a kill on set point to give HPU a 25-15 victory in the opening frame.

High Point again opened up a big lead in set two, going up 14-6 on a kill from Heldt. The Panthers extended the lead to 13 at 23-10 and won the set 25-12 on a kill from senior Chelsea Blanford.

The two teams played to a 9-9 tie in set three before HPU used a 4-0 run to build a 13-9 edge. The surge included two kills from Heldt and an ace from Mirand. HPU won five of the final six points of the set to take it, 25-16, and win the match, 3-0.

With the victory, the Panthers improve to 9-13 on the season (3-6 Big South).

HPU returns to action Saturday inside the Millis Center. The Panthers will battle Gardner-Webb (12-15, 5-4 Big South) at 2 p.m. Admission is free.