High Point Volleyball Falls in Five-Set Battle at College of Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. — High Point University volleyball pushed College of Charleston through five sets Tuesday night but could not close out the nonconference match, falling 3-2 at TD Arena.

The Panthers won the first set 25-18 and the third 25-22, twice putting themselves in position to take control of the match. Charleston answered with a 25-19 win in the second set and survived a marathon fourth set before taking the deciding fifth. The result moved High Point to 9-5 overall while the Panthers remained 3-0 in Big South play; Charleston improved to 15-2.

Maya Bukovcan continued her productive stretch only a day after being recognized as Big South Player of the Week. The sophomore middle blocker finished with 17 kills on 28 attacks, hitting .571, and added seven blocks. Élodie Lalonde also recorded 17 kills, while Gabby Hill added 12. Setter Remy Catojo distributed a season-high 47 assists and also contributed eight kills and 10 digs.

High Point's blocking was one of its biggest strengths. The Panthers totaled 16 blocks to Charleston's 13 and produced seven blocks in the third set alone. That defensive pressure helped HPU turn a Charleston lead into a seven-point run and eventually a 25-22 third-set victory.

The fourth set became the pivot point. It featured 19 ties and seven lead changes, with High Point repeatedly extending the match after Charleston reached possible set point. The Cougars eventually won the extended set to force a fifth. High Point rallied from an early deficit in the deciding set and pulled within two late, but Charleston finished the match with a block.

HPU actually finished with advantages in both kills, 65-50, and blocks, 16-13. The damaging number came at the service line, where the Panthers committed 21 service errors. Head coach Ryan Meek pointed afterward to unforced errors and difficulty maintaining focus when the match tightened, while also crediting Charleston for adjusting as the night progressed.

The loss does not affect High Point's unbeaten Big South record. The Panthers return to conference play Friday at the Millis Center against Gardner-Webb, with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. That gives HPU an immediate opportunity to turn the lessons from a close road loss into a response at home.