DEKALB, Ill. -- Freshman Kaylee Martin (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) recorded 12 kills while junior Meg Wolowicz (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Lincoln) hit .304 with nine kills but the Northern Illinois University volleyball team fell to High Point in its season opener, 25-11, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, on Friday afternoon in the first match of the NIU Holiday Inn Express Invitational. 

High Point (1-0) raced out to an 11-1 lead in the opening set; the Panthers had three service aces during the run as they took a quick 10-point lead. After the High Point lead reached 18-4, NIU (0-1) played the Panthers even for the remainder of the set but it wasn't enough to overcome the hot early start from High Point as the Panthers took the opening set, 25-11. High Point hit .375 in the opening set. 

Martin and Wolowicz each had three kills as the Huskies evened the match, taking set number two, 25-23. Tied at 19, NIU used a High Point error and a kill by senior Taylor Krage (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) to take a two-point lead. The Huskies wouldn't trail again in the set and went to the intermission tied 1-1. 

After the break, the third set was tied 8-8 until a 5-1 run gave High Point a four-point edge. A kill by Martin helped NIU pull back within a pair, 22-20, but three-straight points gave the third set to the Panthers, 25-20. High Point hit .391 in the third set, including six kills on eight swings from Molly Livingston. 

High Point hit .400 with 19 kills in the fourth set to close out the victory. With the score tied at 14, three consecutive points helped the Panthers build a small cushion. The High Point lead was two until a four-point burst gave the Panthers a 23-17 lead. NIU and High Point traded the next four points as the Panthers finished the match, 25-19. 

Senior Chandler Kinley (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette) had a double-double with 17 assists and 10 digs. Haley Barnes led High Point with 16 kills, Livingston added 14 and hit .722 while Jordan Hefner hit .400 with 10 kills. Abby Bottomley recorded 14 digs for the Panthers. 

NIU returns to action later Friday night (Aug. 25) when the Huskies host Dayton in the final match of the night at 7:30 p.m. Prior to tonight's match NIU will unveil its 2016 MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament banners.