GREENSBORO, N.C. – After dropping the first two sets, UNCG battled back to win the third set, but couldn't hold on as the Spartans fell to High Point, 3-1, on Tuesday evening in Fleming Gymnasium. It was the final midweek game for the Spartans this season.
With the loss, the Spartans fell to 19-11 this season, while the Panthers improved to 18-12.
The Spartans were led by Caley Redden who had a team-high 11 kills and added a team-high 15 digs for a double-double. Kayren Finney and Ariel Newman each chipped in seven kills too and Kellie Orewiler recorded 11 digs.
Megan Smith had a match-high 17 kills to pace High Point and also had 12 digs for a double-double. Stephanie Wallin had 12 kills offensively as well and Julie Hershkowitz added a match-high 21 digs.
In the opening set, the Spartans used a quick 4-0 run to take an early 10-8 lead. The Panthers immediately responded with a 5-0 run of their own to take a 13-10 lead. It was a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they quickly built their lead to 17-12 on a UNCG attack error to force a Spartan timeout. UNCG couldn't recover out of the timeout and dropped the first set, 25-18.
Things didn't get better for UNCG in the second set as High Point ran off six-straight points to take an 11-4 lead. The Panthers then led 12-7 midway through the set before running off the final 13 points in a row to take the second set in commanding fashion, 25-7.
The Spartans came fighting back out of the intermission as the two teams traded points early. High Point eventually built a 13-9 lead, but UNCG came right back to take the next four points and tie the set at 13 on a kill by Kayren Finney.
The Spartans finally got their first lead at 21-20 on a kill by Redden before the Panthers tied it back up at 22. Another kill by Redden gave UNCG a 23-22 lead and forced a High Point timeout. Out of the timeout, the Spartans got a kill from Newman to set up set point and Redden finished the set off with a kill to give UNCG the set, 25-22.
The teams continued trading points at the beginning of the fourth set at UNCG held a narrow 8-6 advantage. The Panthers came right back to take the next seven points to go ahead, 13-8. The Spartans fought back to cut the High Point lead to 17-15, but the Panthers won the next four points en route to winning the set, 25-20.
The Spartans will wrap up their regular season this weekend as they host Western Carolina and Appalachian State. UNCG will begin its weekend on Friday against the Catamounts at 7 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
AGATE
High Point def. UNCG 25-18, 25-7, 22-25, 25-20
High Point (18-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - SMITH, Megan 17-0-1; WALLIN, Stephanie 12-0-3; GONZALEZ, Audie 7-4-1; JOHNK, Courtney 6-0-1; CHAKIRELIS, Michelle 6-0-3; SIMPSON, Maddie 2-1-1; HERSHKOWITZ, Julie 0-2-0; HOLLIDAY, Breanna 0-1-0; Totals 50-8-6.0. (Assists) - SIMPSON, Maddie 43. (Dig leaders) - HERSHKOWITZ, Julie 21; SMITH, Megan 12; GONZALEZ, Audie 8
UNCG (19-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caley Redden 11-0-1; Kayren Finney 7-0-3; Ariel Newman 7-0-2; Olivia Humphries 5-1-3; Billi Baker 5-0-2; Ari Lysacek 3-0-1; Karrian Chambers 2-0-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 40-2-6.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 33. (Dig leaders) - Caley Redden 15; Kellie Orewiler 11; Ariel Newman 9
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Nov 09, 2010 Attend: 216 Time: 1:40
Referees: Kevin Wendelboe, Wade Brence
- UNCG -
