Piedmont University Athletics

The 2007-2008 year in Piedmont College athletics proved to be one of the best in school's history since becoming full-fledged NCAA members in 2003. The athletic department hoisted three Great South Athletic Conference team championships (volleyball, women's basketball, baseball) as well as claiming a share of the GSAC Men's Presidents' Cup which honors the conference's most outstanding athletic department. Piedmont was also able to three representatives into the NCAA Division-III postseason, the most postseason berths of any of the league's seven member institutions.

The 2007 fall season got started with the PC cross country programs serving as host of the conference championship meet. The men's team finished runner-up in the GSAC Tournament as well and sent three individual runners into the NCAA Division-III postseason. For their efforts Christopher Rice and Michael Fidero were named to the Great South All-Conference Team and the duo along with Yve Chawla represented the Lions in the postseason.

The men's soccer season was highlighted by senior Drew Griffin who was named the conference's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Griffin, who was a four-time member of the All-Conference team, led all of NCAA Division-III in goals per game (1.67). In addition Jimmy Stephens was named the league's Coach of the Year. Piedmont finished the season 11-4-1 overall.

After finishing as the volleyball regular season as the runner-up the Lady Lions defeated conference rival Maryville to receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division-III National Tournament. PC finished the 2007 season in Dallas, TX at the Austin College Regional with an overall record of 24-9. Newcomer Kalin DeMarrais was named the GSAC Freshman of the Year while Katie O'Brien was named the Great South Coach of the Year.  O'Brien later resigned her position to become the head volleyball coach at NCAA Division-II Montevallo (AL) University. 

In basketball the men's team finished the 2007-08 campaign as the Great South Athletic Conference runner-up with an overall record of 14-13. The Lions were led by senior Jake Baldwin who finished the year second in all of NCAA Division-III leader in points per game (27.1). The forward was named the league's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was a D3Hoops 3rd Team All-American. Additionally the senior was one of 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy awarded annually to the nation's top men's basketball player.  The non-losing season was the third consecutive for the Lions marking the first time for that feat in 36 years. 

The women's basketball team also enjoyed success over the winter claiming both the regular season and tournament championships and earning a trip to the NCAA Division-III postseason for a second consecutive year. Senior Nikki Sosebee was named the league's Player of the Year while Jamie Childs-Purdy was named the Coach of the Year. Joining Sosebee on the All-Conference Team was Sheena Trimiar as each player recorded their 1,000th point this season. The Lady Lions posted a 2007-08 final record of 24-4.

The men's tennis team finished runner-up in the GSAC falling to top seed Huntingdon in the championships. Senior David Gillispie was named the GSAC Player of the Year while Chris Leonardo joined him on the All-Conference team.  The women's tennis team finished the year by winning three of its final four matches to conclude the year with a 4-10 record.  The team placed six players on the league's All-Academic team. 

In softball the Lady Lions finished as the regular season champs and posted a runner-up finish in the conference tournament. The Lady Lions were led by senior Megan Day who was named the GSAC Player of the Year while freshman B.J. Cofer was named the Pitcher of the Year. Terry Martin was named the Great South Coach of the Year as PC finished with a 28-13 overall record.

The baseball team punctuated the outstanding year win their banner season that included claiming the regular season championship for a third consecutive year and also hoisted the conference tournament championship trophy. The Lions earned an at-large Pool B bid into the NCAA Division-III national tournament where they knocked off top-seeded Salisbury University 10-6. The Lions finished the year with an overall record of 34-14 and placed seven players on the GSAC All-Conference Team highlighted by 2nd-Team All-American Tom Dimitroff who shared the nation's lead in saves (14). Jim Peeples was named the conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. The team finished the season ranked #22 in the D3Baseball.com national poll and were ranked as high as #5 nationally in the American Baseball Coaches Association national poll. 

Although not recognized as conference-sponsored sports, the PC men's and women's golf teams continued their steady climb up the NCAA national rankings.  The men's team finished the year ranked 106th out of over 250 schools.  In only its third year of team competition, the women's team finished the year ranked 44th nationally narrowly missing a national tournament invitation as a Pool B independent. 

In addition to performing well on the playing fields, the PC student-athletes took care of business in the class room as well.   As a department the PC teams ended the year with a 3.21 cumulative grade point average highlighted by a spring semester GPA of 3.33 in which all 13 teams carried a team average of above 3.0.

2007-2008 Piedmont College Athletics Inside The Numbers

1 GSAC Freshman of the Year
1 Jostens' Trophy finalist
2 All-Americans
3 GSAC Team Tournament Championships
3 GSAC Team Regular Season Titles
3 NCAA Divison-III National Tournament Team Appearances
4 GSAC Tournament Runner-Up Finishes
5 GSAC Coaches of the Year
7 GSAC All-Freshman Team Members
7 GSAC Players of the Year
31 GSAC All-Conference Team Members
53 GSAC All-Academic Team Members
172 Final NACDA US Sports Academy Director's Cup Standings Ranking (450 schools)
149-88-1 (.639) Overall Combined Team Record