HIGH POINT, N.C. – Gardner-Webb fought first-place High Point throughout Friday night's match, but fell 3-0 to the Panthers inside the Millis Center.
High Point (20-9, 13-2 Big South) won 25-18, 25-20 and 25-21 to remain tied atop the league standings.
Gardner-Webb (9-18, 7-8 Big South) led early on in the opening set and played even with the Panthers until a 5-0 burst put the hosts up 19-12. High Point stretched its lead to 22-13 before putting the set away.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the second set, with Gardner-Webb pulling within 13-12 on a kill by Avery Cole – off an assist from Morgan Hornaday. High Point opened up an 18-13 lead with three quick points, but Gardner-Webb trimmed the lead down to two points three times late in the match until the Panthers closed out the set with a 25-20 victory.
Gardner-Webb showed its grit in the third set, rallying to cut the Panthers' lead to 22-20 on a pair of attack errors. High Point pushed its lead to 24-20 and was able to claim the win.
Kylee Garrison led the way for Gardner-Webb, posting 12 kills in the match. Mikayla Logan was effective and efficient, posting a .389 hitting percentage with eight kills and just one error in 18 swings. She added a pair of block assists for the 'Dogs.
Hornaday contributed 19 assists and hit .667 with two kills. Gardner-Webb hit .233 for the match as a team.
High Point got 11 kills erach from Lucy Dumford and Maggie Salley, hitting a strong .316 as a team.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Saturday, making the trek up to Radford, Va., for a 2:00 pm tilt against the Highlanders. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Highlanders are tied for fifth place in the league standings – just a half game behind Charleston Southern.
Gardner-Webb topped Radford 3-0 on October 14 in Paul Porter Arena and split the season series with Charleston Southern.
