Final Stats |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Senior Cristina Nazario of the Western Carolina volleyball team became just the seventh student-athlete in program history to record 3,000 career assists Tuesday night inside the Ramsey Center. Nazario needed 12 assists going into the match and with the Catamounts trailing 18-15 in the third set, Nazario set up sophomore Kaycey Cermin for a kill to record her 12th assist of the night.

Nazario now joins an elite group of Catamount setters led by all-time assists leader Bri Milan-Williams (1998-01).

The Catamounts fell to visiting High Point University 3-0 in the match and it marked the Panthers first victory of Western Carolina since 1979.

Sophomore Katie O'Connor led the Catamounts with eight kills while freshmen Savannah Kohlhagen and Alyssa Zupan along with sophomore Jo-Leigh Vervelde all chipped in five kills.

Vervelde led WCU in assists with 14 while Nazario added 12. Vervelde also tied for the team lead in digs with 13 while senior libero Elyssa Mulheron added 13 as well.

WCU hit just .051 as a team while High point swung at a .250 clip.

Haley Barnes led the Panthers with 12 kills and 10 digs while Abby Broadstreet added nine kills and eight digs.

HPU swept the match 25-19, 25-14 and 25-20.

With the loss the Catamounts fell to 6-10 while the Panthers improved to 10-6 with the victory. Both teams open up conference play this Friday. WCU opens up Southern Conference action against Wofford at home on Friday at 6 pm while High Point opens up Big South play against Campbell at home at 7 pm.