• HPU picked up its third-straight win with a sweep of Arkansas Pine Bluff
• Sophomore Megan Kennedy led HPU with eight kills, nine digs and two blocks.
• HPU continues the TCU Molten Invitational with matches against Sam Houston State and TCU on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The High Point University volleyball team opened the TCU Molten Invitational with a sweep of Arkansas Pine Bluff. HPU got solid performances from the two Texas natives on the roster. Sophomore Megan Kennedy had a match-high nine digs with eight kills and freshman Camryn Freiberg hit .556 with six kills.
The Panthers improve to 5-6 with the win over UAPB on Friday at TCU. HPU outhit Pine Bluff .277 to .174 in the match. Kennedy led all players with nine digs. She also hit .375 with eight kills and two blocks. Freiberg hit .556 with six kills and one block. Senior Chelsea Davis tallied a match-high nine kills with two aces. Redshirt-sophomore Savannah Angel added seven kills, four blocks and three aces.
“It was a good effort from every player tonight,” said head coach Jason Oliver. “Everyone played with focus. I can’t point out any one person which is what we need in a solid team effort. It is a great start to the tournament and we will need to build on it tomorrow.”
Freshman Carly Jimenez led HPU with 23 assists while junior Gabi Mirand added 13. Sophomore Greta Griswold
The Panthers took set one 25-18. Davis served an ace to give HPU an early 9-8 lead and the Panthers never looked back. HPU held Arkansas Pine Bluff to a .000 hitting percentage in the frame. The Panthers hit .400 in the second frame to coast to a 25-14 victory. The Panthers opened up a 22-16 lead in set three on an ace by freshman Amy Pilat. UAPB fought back to get within one, 22-21, but High Point rallied back to win 25-21.
High Point is back on the court tomorrow against Sam Houston State at noon and TCU at 8 p.m.