UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The High Point University volleyball team battled its first top 10 ranked opponent on Sunday morning. The Panthers took on the No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions in their final game of the Penn State Invitational and took the match to five sets. After rallying to the fifth set, HPU was unable to secure enough points for the upset and fell 3-2, becoming the first team in High Point program history to go to five sets against a ranked opponent.
"An amazing bounce back effort from our team," Head Coach Ryan Meek stated. "All of the things we didn't do well yesterday, we took care of today. We competed hard, stayed focused and trusted our systems. Now we need to build off of today and get better for next weekend."
Site: Rec Hall
Score: High Point 2, No. 10 Penn State 3
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Record: High Point (1-2), Penn State (2-0)
Panthers strike first in opening set
High Point stunned Penn State in the opening set as the Panthers were on fire on the attack. After trailing 6-2 early, HPU took a quick timeout to regroup and settle, which quickly turned things around. Talia Lardner started a 3-0 run for the Panthers with a kill off the block on the right side. An Élodie Lalonde hit put HPU within one point at 7-6.
Midway through the set, the dynamic duo of Remy Catojo and Maya Bukovcan heated up as the pair first secured a double block, followed by a Catojo kill and a Bukovcan kill, giving High Point its first lead of the set at 11-9.
The middle attack continued to be a problem for the Nittany Lions as Bukovcan and Addison Freeland kept hammering down hits, resulting in a 19-18 advantage. With the Panthers leading by one point, 21-20, the offense pressed on and strung together four straight points to take set one, 25-20, building confidence and momentum against a strong Big Ten opponent.
Penn State answers in sets two and three
High Point faced some challenges in the second set, collecting only six kills as a team on the attack. The challenges gave PSU an opportunity to go on a run resulting in a dropped set for the Panthers, tying the match at 1-1.
In set three, HPU trailed 11-4. Battling back with a 6-0 run led by Bukovcan with multiple kills and a block, the Panthers trailed within one, 11-10. Penn State took another six-point lead at 20-14 but High Point closed it back to within three at 22-19. Multiple errors by the Panthers caused the Nittany Lions to extend their lead and take set three 25-19.
High Point rallies to force a fifth set
The fourth set showed grit and composure for HPU. Down 19-9, the Panthers dug deep and rallied back on an 8-0 run to make it 19-17. Lardner sparked the run while Lalonde and Bukovcan each contributed kills and frazzled Penn State.
Still trailing 21-19, Bukovcan put down a kill and a service ace to tie the set at 21 all. Gabby Hill put the Panthers on top but the set tied again at 24 all. A PSU service error and a Lardner kill on the right side gave the Panthers their second set win of the day and forced a fifth set.
Nittany Lions hold on in deciding set
High Point trailed early 12-5 but did not give up. Continuing the game of runs, the Panthers rallied off six points with the help of back-to-back service aces from Sydney McKay to make it a two-point game, 12-10. Penn State managed to land three kills and take set five 15-10.
Match leaders
Bukovcan and Lalonde finished with 11 kills apiece to lead the match, followed by Lardner with a career-high 10. Bukovcan collected her first double-double of her career with 10 blocks to go along with her 11 kills. Kea Whillock picked up 29 digs and Catojo dished out 38 assists with five blocks. McKay led the match with five service aces for a new career high.
Up next
High Point remains on the road for another tournament during the Labor Day weekend. The Panthers will take on Lamar University on Saturday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m. at the Liberty Mountain Madness.
#GoHPU
