Box Score vs. North Greenville | Box Score vs. Shorter
Photo Gallery vs. North Greenville | Photo Gallery vs. Shorter

Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College volleyball team split two matches in its return home this afternoon after having competed in two road tournaments over the last two weekends.  The Lady Lions defeated NCAA Division-II member North Greenville University 3-1 to avenge a September 15 loss to the Crusaders, but PC was unable to tally another win on the day falling in straight sets to Shorter College 3-0.

In the North Greenville match, Piedmont jumped ahead early taking the first set 25-19 before dropping a tough two-point battle in set number two.  PC finished strong down the stretch to take another tight set 25-23 before claiming a 25-18 decision in the fourth set. 

Senior Heather Stafford and junior Erin Krause led the way with 14 kills each for the squad as Stafford posted a season-high .444 hitting percentage.  Freshman setter Katheryn Knarr had a match-high 28 assists in the win while classmate Ashton Nash posted 15 of her own.

On the defensive end, PC was led by sophomore defensive specialist Paige Eslinger who grabbed a season-high 23 digs while senior Kalin DeMarrais followed close behind with 22.  DeMarrais also notched ten kills to close to within one of the 100 kill mark for the 2010 season and was quick to surpass the century mark later in the afternoon against Shorter College.

In their second match of the day, Piedmont ran into a 10-win team in Shorter College as the Hawks had fallen only once so far in 2010.  Shorter overcame the home team 25-11 in the first set before rolling to a 25-15 second set win.  PC fought back to close within two points of the visitors in the third set, but the Hawks pushed through to claiim the decider 25-22.

Against Shorter, Stafford was once again the leader in kills tallying six for the contest on just 12 total attempts for a .417 hitting percentage.  A pair of Lady Lions added five kills each in junior Rachel Powell and freshman Ashley Fannon while DeMarrais tallied four more.

Knarr and Nash earned 12 and 13 assists respectively to lead the Piedmont attack.  Defensively, Paige Eslinger made her presence felt for the second time of the day as the defensive specialist fought for 21 digs to lead the team.

With the split, the Lady Lions move to 6-6 on the season.  Piedmont will return to the court in an evening match at in-state foe Oglethorpe University on Monday, September 20 with the first serve set to drop at 7:00.