HIGH POINT, N.C.- Appalachian State University volleyball remained undefeated, as the Black and Gold mustered a comeback, earning wins in three straight sets to edge tournament-host High Point University Saturday evening. The victory improves ASU to a perfect 3-0 on the young 2010 season and drops the Panthers to 2-1. The 3-0 mark is the best start to a season under head coach Matt Ginipro and the best start for ASU since going 3-0 to begin the 2005 campaign.

After falling behind by two sets, the Mountaineers rallied and picked up a 25-18 third-set win and 25-22 fourth-set win to push the match to five sets.

Continuing with its impressive performance, the Apps dominated High Point in the fifth set, to pick up the thrilling win.

The Mountaineers jumped out to a decisive 5-0 lead in the fifth set, one that the Panthers could never recover from as Caroline Sedon and Meghann Forshey paced Appalachian's offense.

A block assist by Kelly Rhein and Alison Blasingame gave ASU the commanding 10-3 lead that proved too be too much for High Point. Rhein then registered a kill to make the score 12-4 in ASU's favor. That combined with two attack errors by HPU gave ASU the thrilling 15-6 fifth set and 3-2 match win.

Rhein ended the contest with 16 kills and 16 digs to go along with five block assists.

The start of the match was hotly contested, as the first set saw 18 ties, with a block assist by the duo of Blasingame and Forshey putting the Apps ahead 23-22. However, High Point tallied a kill to knot the set at 23 all, and two Mountaineer errors proved costly, giving High Point the 25-23 first set win.

It appeared Appalachian would tie the match at one apiece, after grabbing a 12-8 second set lead, thanks in part to back-to-back kills by Blasingame.

Despite the advantage, the Panthers came roaring back, tying action at 15 all. The set was evenly played, as both squads traded points, but once again two Black and Gold errors gave HPU a two-point lead that they never gave up.

Closing out the set on a 5-0 streak, High Point handed ASU a 25-19 second set defeat and took a 2-0 match lead.

Down but not out, Appalachian stepped up and dominated third set action.

A kill by tournament MVP Meghann Forshey, coupled with kills by teammates Rhein and Kasey Sauls gave the Apps an 11-5 lead.

Continuing to dominate, ASU went up by as many as seven points, leading 19-12.

Kills by Blasingame and Rhein, along with a final attack error by High Point helped ASU cap off the third set victory and stay alive in the contest.

After going up at the beginning of the fourth set, ASU never relinquished its lead to even the match at two sets apiece, with a 25-22 fourth set win.

Always able to keep at least a one point cushion, strong offensive play by Sedon, Forshey and Rhein enabled ASU to stay on top.

Once High Point pulled within one point, making it 15-14, Appalachian outscored the Panthers 7-3 to earn a 22-17 lead. The Panthers were able to make it interesting, cutting their deficit to just three, but ASU hung on, as a set-winning kill by senior Lauren Swecker pushed the match to five sets.

The Black and Gold dominated fifth-set play and remained a spotless 3-0 on the season with their win over the tournament-host.

The Mountaineers step out of tournament play, as they take on former Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State, Tuesday, August 31, with the match slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Johnson City, Tenn.

High Point all-Tournament Team

Amber Inman, NC A&T
Sam Seifert, UNCW
Megan Smith, HPU
Courtney Rhein, ASU
Meghann Forshey, ASU – MVP