Box Score vs. Huntingdon | Box Score vs. Birmingham Southern

Birmingham, AL -- The Piedmont College volleyball team continued its strong showing in the 2011 season splitting a pair of matches earlier this afternoon at the McK Attack hosted by Birmingham Southern College.  After dispensing of Great South Athletic Conference foe Huntingdon College 3-0, the Lady Lions battled the hosting Panthers of BSC to a four set decision that fell in favor of the home team 3-1 though no set was won by more than three points by either team. 

In the early afternoon contest, Piedmont took on the Lady Hawks of Huntingdon in a rematch of last year's GSAC tournament championship game in which the Lady Lions won 3-1.  This year's PC volleyball team bettered that result though knocking off HC in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-17), marking their second straight shutout decision of 2011.

Leading PC in kills against the Lady Hawks was freshman Kaitlin Norman who posted seven at the net while senior Rachel Powell followed close behind with her five.  Tabbing four kills each was junior Hallye Jerkins and sophomore Ashley Fannon while Paige Eslinger and Katie Byrd combined for 21 digs behind the front line.

In the nightcap, Piedmont would take the other side of the floor against the tournament host Panthers of Birmingham Southern in what turned into an epic battle between the two sides.  BSC would need to go to tie break points in the first set winning 27-25 before needing another tight win in the second set 25-23 to go up two sets to none over visiting PC. 

However, the defending GSAC champion Lady Lions showed their determination not giving up to steal the third set from the Panthers 25-22 in the only set of the match that was determined by more than two points.  Despite cutting their deficit in half, the Lady Lions' comeback effort was cut short by yet another close game in the fourth set where BSC won 25-23 once more for the match win 3-1.

Despite the tough loss to the Panthers, some bright spots came out of the evening contest as Paige Eslinger put on a performance for the ages tabbing 38 digs against BSC.  Eslinger's mark was just three shy of the Piedmont single game record for digs in a game set by Katy Randolph in 2003 against Southern Wesleyan University though that record came in a five set decision.

Making her presence felt at the net was middle blocker Jerkins who collected a dozen kills while Powell was just one shy of that game high mark of 12.  Byrd and fellow newcomer Jennifer Opper each put down seven kills in the loss while Katheryn Knarr added 26 set assists to bring her totals on the day to just under 50. 

With the split on the day, Piedmont moved to 2-1 overall including a 1-1 showing so far in the McK Attack tournament.  The Lady Lions get back on the court with a pair of back-to-back tourney matches on Sunday, September 4th starting with a 11:00 am morning match against former GSAC member Stillman College.