HIGH POINT, N.C. – Despite a back-and-forth third set, Winthrop volleyball fell to High Point Friday afternoon in three sets, 25-13, 25-17 and 25-21.  
 
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Leah Metzger (16 digs, 3 assists, 2 services aces)
Jana Owens (10 assists, 6 digs)
Morgan Bossler (5 blocks, 3 kills, 1 service ace)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
High Point took a commanding lead early in Set 1, going up 6-0 before Winthrop called a timeout and stretching their lead to 8-0 after the break. Back-to-back attack errors gave Winthrop its first points of the set. The Eagles hung in there, making it a 16-11 set in favor of HPU off a Leah Metzger service ace. A 6-1 run to close out the first, capped off by a Sopheea Mink kill, would give the Panthers the 25-13 win in Set 1.
 
Despite going up 2-0 to open the set, the Panthers allowed Winthrop to chip away and take a 10-6 lead off a Leah Metzger service ace. Four straight points for High Point tied the set at 10 apiece. After allowing the Panthers to retake the lead, Winthrop tied things up at 16 after a big Nikkia Benitez kill and a ball handling error. An 8-1 run allowed High Point to go up 2-0 in the match with the 25-17 win in Set 2.
 
The third set was a battle, seeing 15 ties and six lead changes. The Eagles took the lead late, going up 19-17 off back-to-back attack errors. In response, the Panthers rattled off six unanswered points to lead 23-19. The Eagles kept things close with a service error and an Emily Wunder kill, cutting High Point's lead to just two, 23-21. The Panthers would win the next two points and the set, 25-21.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles will continue their road trip to Radford, VA for a two-match series with the Highlanders on Mar. 18-19. First serve is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, 2 p.m. on Friday.