Box Score vs. Lynchburg | Box Score vs. Emory

Atlanta, GA -- The Piedmont College volleyball team dropped two straight matches for the first time all season earlier this afternoon at the 2011 Emory National Tournament.  Returning to the site of their NCAA Regional competition from last fall, the Lady Lions were swept 3-0 by Lynchburg College before falling to the host Eagles of Emory in another straight set decision to set their first losing streak of any kind on the year.

Against Lynchburg, the Lady Lions fell in the opening set 25-20 before letting the Hornets run away with set number two falling 25-13 to dig a two set hole.  Piedmont would not be able to climb out in the tourney opener dropping the third set 25-21 for the eventual 3-0 loss snapping a three-match winning streak. 

In their second contest of the day, Piedmont would match up against an Emory team with a winning streak of its own though the third ranked Eagles had claimed 19 decisions in a row coming into their showdown with the Lady Lions.  The last time these two clubs faced each other was in the same facility a little over 11 months ago when they competed in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament, a match that the Eagles took 3-0 on the way to finishing as the national runner-up.

The Lady Lions could not take a set off the nationally ranked opponent as Emory claimed a 25-14 winner in the opening set of today's match before posting back-to-back 25-19 winners in the second and third sets.  The 3-0 straight set victory represents the program's 20th straight victory while also handing Piedmont its first losing streak of the season. 

Six Lady Lions hit in the negatives against the Eagles with freshman Kaitlin Norman posting a team-high six kills in 24 attempts to lead the way offensively.  Ringgold native Paige Eslinger was the team's leader defensively with 14 digs while newcomer Katie Byrd added a half dozen to the effort.

Piedmont Head Coach Sid Feldman will have to wait one more day for another shot at 400 career victories as his club, now 17-5 on the season, will get back in action at the Emory National Tournament tomorrow, October 8th with a pair of contests.  The Lady Lions open the Saturday of competition at 12:00 pm when they take on Ohio Northern University before closing up tourney play against Trevecca Nazarene at 4:00 pm.