Box Score Box Score
HIGH POINT, NC – The Winthrop volleyball team lost its second straight conference match as the Eagles fell to the High Point Panthers in straight sets (25-12, 29-27, 25-18) Saturday afternoon at the Millis Center.
The loss drops the Eagles to 10-13 overall and 7-4 in the Big South, as the Panthers improve their record to 14-11 in the season and 9-2 in the conference.
Leading the Eagles was senior outside hitter Kaley Viola with her thirteenth double-double of the season, finishing the afternoon with 10 kills and 10 digs. Senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison led the Eagles in digs with 14, as senior setter Kelsey Hall tied Viola in digs with 10. Hall also added 24 assists.
The first set was controlled by High Point as the Panthers scored ten of the first thirteen points and ran away with the set, winning 25-12. High Point finished the set with 13 kills and an attacking percentage of .393.
The second set started much better for Winthrop as the Eagles jumped out to a 10-6 lead. The Panthers fought back in run, tying the score at the 13-13 mark. From that point, the teams swapped points throughout the rest of the set, as the set saw a tie at the 27-27 mark. A kill from High Point's Audie Gonzalez and an attacking error by Winthrop gave the Panthers the second set 29-27. The Eagles finished the second set with 18 kills.
"We played a great second set," head coach Sally Polhamus said. "We just couldn't finish."
In the third set, the teams were even to the 10-10 point. From that mark, the Panthers went on a run 15-8 run to close out the set, taking the final set 25-18.
"We could not get into our offense today," Polhamus said. "And against a good High Point team, it's hard to overcome that."
Leading High Point were Megan Smith with 22 kills and Julie Hershkowitz with 20 digs. The Panthers finished the match with 44 kills, 50 digs and a .304 attacking percentage.
The Eagles will be on the road again on Tuesday, Oct. 26 as they travel to Coastal Carolina. That match is set for 6 p.m. The Panthers are back in action on Friday, Oct. 29 when they travel to UNC Asheville for a 7 p.m. matchup.
