HIGH POINT, N.C. - UNC Greensboro rallied to force a fifth and final set, but High Point controlled the fifth set to hold on for a 3-2 win over the Spartans on Monday evening in the Millis Center.
The Spartans fell to 4-6 this season, while the Panthers improved to 7-5 on the year.
Senior Catherine Hanners led the Spartans with 17 kills and also had a season-high 27 digs. Caley Redden registered a career-high 15 kills and Billi Baker also broke a career-high with 20 digs.
The Panthers had three players hit double-digit kills led by Stephanie Wallin with 14. Holly Fong had 41 assists and Julie Hershkowitz had a match-high 48 digs.
The Spartans trailed the Panthers 8-7 in the first set, but UNCG rattled off the next six points capped off by a Kayleigh Knerr ace to take a 13-8 lead. UNCG would never relinquish that lead as it went on to take the first set, 25-18.
UNCG appeared on pace to win the second set after leading 17-14 in the set, but High Point won 11 of the final 15 points to steal the set 25-21.
Once again, the Spartans had a late lead when Alissa Beaudway's kill gave them a 23-20 lead. High Point took the next four points and the two teams went on to trade points until they were knotted at 27. A kill by Megan Kiminskas and Fong gave the Panthers the set, 29-27.
The Spartans refused to go down without a fight despite trailing 16-12 midway through the fourth set. The Panthers extended their lead to 20-15, but UNCG was able to tie the game at 22. Two kills by Hanners salted the set away for the Spartans to tie the team score at two.
In the first to 15 final set, High Point hopped out to a commanding 7-0 lead. UNCG fought back to within 12-6 on a kill by Redden, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit and High Point won the set, 15-6, to win the match.
The Spartans will return to the floor this weekend as they host the UNCG Tournament. UNCG opens against Georgetown on Friday night at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the tournament on Saturday against La Salle and NC State.
AGATE
High Point def. UNC Greensboro: 18-25, 25-21, 29-27, 23-25, 15-6
UNC Greensboro (4-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Catherine Hanners 17-3-1; Caley Redden 15-4-2; Olivia Humphries 9-1-2; Alissa Beaudway 7-0-2; Billi Baker 5-0-1; Ari Lysacek 3-0-0; Emily Lindborg 2-0-0; Kayleigh Knerr 0-2-0; Totals 58-10-4.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 45. (Dig leaders) - Catherine Hanners 27; Kayleigh Knerr 20; Billi Baker 20; Caley Redden 17; Ari Lysacek 14
High Point (7-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - WALLIN, Stephanie 14-1-6; SMITH, Megan 12-1-1; BARLOW, Molly 10-1-1; KAMINSKAS, Megan 7-0-8; LOTT, Anna 6-1-1; FONG, Holly 2-4-0; HOLLIDAY, Breanna 0-1-0; Totals 51-9-9.0. (Assists) - FONG, Holly 41. (Dig leaders) - HERSHKOWITZ, Julie 48; FONG, Holly 15; BARLOW, Molly 15; SMITH, Megan 13
Site: High Point, NC (Millis Center)
Date: Sep 14, 2009 Attend: 289 Time: 2:04
Referees: Stephen Shepherd, Michael Fulk
- UNCG -
