High Point, N.C. – Despite a late comeback in the fourth set, Winthrop would eventually fall to High Point in the title match of the Big South Conference Tournament by a final score of 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 11-25, 29-27, 6-15) Sunday afternoon at the Millis Athletic Center on the campus of High Point University. With the victory, High Point secures the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Winthrop (14-13, 12-2 Big South) | High Point (23-6, 14-0 Big South)
Nov. 19, 2023 | Millis Athletic Center
Winthrop 2, High Point 3 (17-25, 25-23, 11-25, 29-27, 6-15)
How it Happened
Set 1 | Tied at eight, High Point went on a 9-2 run to take a 17-10 lead.
Brookelynn Thomas registered two kills and an ace to slice the lead in half at 17-13. But the Panthers answered back with a closing 8-4 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set 2 | Tied at 14 with
Karli Shepherd and
Avery Jolley leading the way early with two kills each, the Eagles scored the next three points to go up three midway through the frame. Winthrop maintained a margin of 1-3 points for the next several plays. Jolley then tied the match with a kill.
Set 3 | High Point began the third set with a 9-1 lead. Two straight kills by Jolley and Thomas only temporarily stopped the Panther's quick start. High Point remained in total control for the rest of the set, scoring the last eight points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set 4 | Trailing 7-3, Winthrop rallied to tie the set at 10 with a 7-3 run. Jolley led the way with a pair of kills. The Panthers responded with three straight points to break the tie and then scored 10 of the next 15 points to take a 23-15 lead. The Eagles gave it one last shot, somehow coming all the way back to force the fifth and final set with a 14-4 finish. The comeback marked the first time that High Point was taken to a fifth set by a Big South opponent in either the regular-season and/or conference tournament.
Set 5 | Unfortunately, Winthrop's comeback fell short. High Point started the final set with an 8-1 lead. Following this, High Point would claim the conference title several plays later.
Statistical Leaders
Notables
- The Eagles have played 1,801 matches all-time as the program holds a mark of 1,073-728.
- Winthrop is 35-29 all-time in the Big South Tournament.
- Jolley and Thomas were named to the All-Tournament Team/
- Three Eagles got into double figures in kills.
- Isabella Murray and Rachel McCollum got into double figures in assists.
- Four Eagles got into double figures in digs.
- Jolley led Winthrop in kills with 16 and digs with 19.
- Thomas and McCollum each had an ace to lead the Eagles in that category.
- Thomas led the Eagles in blocks with four.
- McCollum led the Eagles in assists with 23.
UP NEXT
Winthrop awaits their postseason fate.
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