BOX SCORE

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Megan Smith finished with a match-high 13 kills and picked up eight digs to lead second-seeded High Point to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) victory over Radford in the first round of the 2010 Big South Volleyball Tournament at the Winthrop Coliseum Thursday.

Audie Gonzalez joined Smith in double figures with 12 kills for the Panthers, while Maddie Simpson led both setters with 36 assists.

Despite the loss, junior Megan McWhorter paced the Highlanders with seven kills and eight digs, while Desiree Aramburu followed with six kills, 14 assists and nine digs.

As a team, High Point connected on 43 of its swings for a .250 hitting percentage and tallied seven total team blocks to hold Radford to a .093 clip.

Tied 18-18 in the first set, High Point went on a 7-2 run, which included three service aces to take the set 25-20. Smith finished the set with four kills for the Panthers, while McWhorter led the Highlanders with three.

After the clubs traded points to find themselves deadlocked at 6-6, High Point went on a 4-0 spurt to secure a large enough lead to eventually take the second set, 25-20.

In the third set, the Panthers connected on 14 of their 30 swings with just five errors (.300), while holding Radford to a .038 hitting percentage with just seven kills to take the victory, 25-14.

The Highlanders conclude their season with an overall record of 11-21 and 5-11 in the Big South, while High Point will advance to the semifinals Friday at 4:30 p.m.