University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
High Point
Bulldogs Win Third Straight Match at High Point
11.07.2009 | Women's Volleyball
HIGH POINT, N.C.-Kelsey Benorden became just the second player in the Big South this season to record a double-20 as she had 20 kills and a career-high 28 digs in UNC Asheville's 25-16, 13-25, 26-24, 25-21 victory over High Point on Saturday.
Benorden has recorded 45 kills in her last two matches to move her into seventh place on Asheville's career kill list and helps the Bulldogs (23-8, 12-2 Big South) to their third-straight victory. The win keeps Asheville in first place in the Big South with just two conference matches remaining.
Lauren Ficker added 13 kills, Cindi Millier added eight kills, and Jenna Dover had seven kills and a .467 attack percentage. Raquel Miotto had 32 digs for third 30 dig match of the season and the 10th of her career.
High Point (16-15, 5-9 Big South) had four player with double figure kills. Courtney Jonk led the Panthers with 14 kills. Meagan Smith had 12 kills and 16 digs, Stephanie Wallin also had 12 kills, and Anna Lot added 10 kills. Julie Hershkowitz had a team-high 25 digs in the match.
"I thought High Point played a great match against us today," said Asheville head coach Julie Torbett. "I am proud of the way our team has battled in pressure matches. These three two matches were huge road wins. We were down in the third set, but stayed composed, pulled out the win, I am happy to be in the position we are in heading into the final weekend."
Asheville hit .245 in the first set and sided out on 13-of-16 chances en route to a 25-16 victory. The second set was the opposite as High Point hit .448 and sided out 13-of-14 chances to win 25-13. There were no lead ties or lead changes in the first two sets.
The match turned late in the third set, High Point had three sets points leading 24-21. A kill by Benorden and strong serving by Rachel Guinane led the Bulldogs on a 5-0 run to win the set 26-24 and give the Dogs a 2-1 lead.
Set four was tied 18-18, before a kill by Miller and a service aces by Brooke Holliday gave Asheville a lead it would not let go.
Asheville went 3-1 on its longest conference road trip of the year and now returns home for its final two matches. The Bulldogs have their first chance to clinch the number one seed in the upcoming conference tournament on Friday night, Nov. 13, when they host Coastal Carolina at 7 p.m.
