High Point, N.C. – Winthrop's eight-match win streak came to an end this afternoon at High Point on the road by a final score of 3-0 (11-25, 14-25, 16-25).
 
Winthrop (10-12, 9-2 Big South) | High Point (18-6, 11-0 Big South)
Oct. 28, 2023 | Millis Center
Winthrop 0, High Point 3 (11-25, 14-25, 16-25)
 
How it Happened
 
Set 1 | Winthrop began the day down 5-4 but High Point exploded with an 8-0 run, forcing Winthrop to burn a pair of timeouts. Reece Rhoads temporarily ended the run after the break with a kill but High Point shut down the Winthrop offense after that. The Eagles could only muster six points for the rest of the set after Rhoads's kill while the Panthers registered 12.
 
Set 2 | High Point started the second frame with a 7-2 lead before the Eagles scored eight of the next 11 points to cut it to 13-10 with Rhoads getting a kill and an ace while Karli Shepherd notched two kills. Winthrop had to call for time when the Panthers scored the next three points to go up 16-10. Winthrop continued to fight after the timeout, scoring three of the next four points to cut it to four at 17-13. But that's as close as the Eagles would get for the remainder of the set, as the Panthers scored eight of the final nine points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Set 3 | Winthrop started the third set almost identical to the second set, as the Eagles trailed 5-1 before four straight points tied it at five. High Point answered back with a 7-1 spurt to break the early deadlock and take a 12-6 lead. Winthrop battled back by scoring five of the next six points to cut the deficit to two at 13-11. But High Point then took a 17-12 lead by scoring four of the next five points. Consecutive kills by Brookelynn Thomas and a kill by Avery Jolley made it 18-15 but the six-point deficit the Eagles faced earlier in the set proved too much to overcome as High Point clinched the match a few plays later.
 
Notables

• The Eagles have played 1,796 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,068-728.
• Thomas led the Eagles in kills with nine.
• Isabella Murray led the Eagles in assists with 18.
• Madison Gorniak led the Eagles in digs with 11.

UP NEXT
The Eagles continue their road trip next week against UNC Asheville and USC Upstate. Both matches will be on ESPN+.
 
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