CHARLESTON - After 32 consecutive wins in the Big South, High Point was denied number 33.
Friday evening, the HPU Panthers arrived in Charleston to face off against the Buccaneers. Coming into the match the history between these two programs, especially in the last 20 years, was simply one-sided. All signs Friday evening pointed in the direction of continued one-sided dominance as High Point had not only won their previous 32 conference matchups, but also hadn't lost to the Bucs since November 5, 2005. Despite the statistically low chance of a Buc win, the CSU faithful arrived to do what they do so well, bring electricity to the Buc Dome. 

The first set was the closest set of the match as neither squad saw larger than a three-point lead. The set would finish 26-24 in favor of the Bucs. The second set would be a slow start for CSU, and although the Bucs would score 20 points before its conclusion, the 6-0 lead to start the set for HPU would be too much to come back from (20-25 HPU set win).

With the score tied one set a piece, the Bucs returned to the court excited to make more plays, and that they did. A heavy handful of kills from Sophia Kluska and Faith Burch, along with multiple blocks from Brenna Rowland and Ilaria Durante kept the Bucs alive in the crucial third set. Not only was Durante responsible for multiple blocks, she also recorded a key service ace to push the Bucs ahead 16-11. Later in the set for the 22nd point, Durante set a ball up to teammate, and team leader in kills, Skylar Yates. Yates absolutely demolished the ball and left two High Point defenders curious as to what rocket of a volleyball just flew between them. Only three points then stood between CSU and a 2-1 set advantage, and it didn't take them long to achieve it (25-17 CSU set win).

The fourth set was full of continuous energy. Incredible digs by Bucs libero Julia Fledderjohn, additional kills by the Kluska, Burch duo, and a continued block party by Rowland and Durante put the Bucs in position to do something no team in the Big South has done in 32 consecutive matches. The last time CSU took down the Panthers of High Point was in 2005, and now with sophomore Presley Morris up to serve, the 19 year streak was seconds away from being erased. An attack attempt by a High Point player resulted in the ball being hit out of bounds, and the instant the number 25 shined on the scoreboard, every member of VolleyBucs nation rushed the court. Every Buc Dome attendee with blue and gold on had a pearly white smile across their face. The Bucs outplayed Goliath.

Leading CSU in kills was none other than Skylar Yates. Yates 15 kills and 8 digs continue to pile on to her season totals as Yates currently leads this year's squad with 281 total kills. Not far behind in the kills column were Sophia Kluska (13) and Faith Burch (11). Kluska also made her presence known on the defensive end as she finished second on the team in digs (15). Middle blocker Brenna Rowland tied her career-high in blocks as she denied 9 balls in the Friday night battle. Commerce Township, Michigan native Julia Fledderjohn led the crew in digs with 18, and not too far behind in the same category was Illaria Durante (13). In addition to over a dozen digs and three blocks, Durante dished out 40 assists for the Bucs as well.

One of the largest college volleyball upsets across the country now belongs to the Bucs. CSU will have the opportunity to take down another higher-ranked conference opponent at 6:30 this Saturday evening (Nov. 9) when they host the Radford Highlanders. The Saturday night match will be the last home match of the season for the VolleyBucs as they plan to honor their one departing member, Savannah Freeman.

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