NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Averett 3, Piedmont 1
Match 2 Score: Reinhardt 3, Piedmont 2
Records: Piedmont, 2-8; Averett, 2-7
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – The Piedmont College volleyball team fell in a pair of home matches on Saturday afternoon at Cave Arena.
 
The Lady Lions (2-8) lost, 3-1, to Averett in the opening match of the day before falling, 3-2, in a valiant effort to Reinhardt in the finale of the tri-match.
 
Match 1: Averett 3, Piedmont 1
 
The Lady Lions jumped out to an early lead, winning, 25-16, in a dominant first set. Piedmont outhit the Cougars (2-7) .321-.129 and only committed a single attack error.
 
Averett rallied in the second set with an easy 25-18 victory to even the match at 1-1 heading to the third. The Cougars defense held the Lady Lions to a -.132 hitting percentage in the second.
 
PC raced out to a 15-11 lead in a strong start to the third, but Averett responded by winning four straight points to tie the set at 15-all. After a kill by ALINA ROBERTS put the Lions back out front, the Cougars won three more points in a row to take the lead for good, putting away the set at 25-21.
 
The Cougars rode the momentum into the fourth set and raced out to an 8-2 lead to force a Piedmont timeout. On two occasions, the Lions were able to close the gap to one but were never able to tie the score as Averett took the match, 3-1, with a 25-19 win in the fourth set.
 
Roberts paced the Lions with 10 kills while LAINEY CHOINIERE led with 18 digs. Freshman HANNAH KATE CHADWELL delivered a career-high four block assists along with a solo block.
 
Match 2: Reinhardt 3, Piedmont 2
 
After Piedmont quickly took a 7-4 lead to begin the first set, Reinhardt rallied back with a 7-2 run to take the lead. The set was closely contested with the Lady Lions able to regain the lead at 18-17. However, with PC leading 23-20, the Eagles reeled off five-straight points to take the set, 25-23.
 
The Lady Lions returned the favor in the second set, rallying from down, 20-17, to win eight of the final 10 points and even the match at 1-1. Roberts closed the set with a kill to give PC the 25-22 victory.
 
PC fell behind, 14-8, early in the third, but took six consecutive points to tie the score at 14-all. The set was closely contested late into the set, but the Eagles took six of the last eight points to pull away and win, 25-21.
 
Trailing 24-22 in the fourth set, the Lady Lions received back-to-back kills from ERICA BALKCUM to tie the score at 24. Two points later, a bad set by Reinhardt sent the match to a deciding ffith.
 
The Eagles took control of the fifth set early, but the Lady Lions took four straight points to cut their deficit to 9-8. Unfortunately, the Eagles responded after a timeout to win six of the next seven points to clinch the match.
 
Up next, the Lady Lions remain at home as they host Bob Jones this Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.
 
TURNING POINT:
 
Match 1: After the Lady Lions took the first set over Averett with ease, a dominant second set by the Cougars swung momentum in the 3-1 loss for PC.
 
Match 2: Piedmont took four consecutive points to cut Reinhardt's fifth-set lead to 9-8, but after an Eagles timeout, they took control to seal the 15-9 fifth-set victory.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- ALINA ROBERTS tallied 10 kills in each of the first two matches.
- ERICA BALKCUM played an outstanding match against Reinhardt, leading Piedmont with 18 kills and four blocks.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.