Need to Know
Match 1: Piedmont 0, Bridgewater
Match 1: Piedmont 2, Hollins 3
Record: Lady Lions 2-5
Location: Salem, Virginia

SALEM, Va. - The Piedmont College volleyball team dropped a pair of contests Friday at the Roanoke College Maroon Classic including a down-to-the-wire run against Hollins. Piedmont lost 3-0 to Bridgewater to open the tournament and lost a heartbreaker 3-2 to Hollins. 

Against Bridgewater, the Eagles took the lead midway through the first set after Piedmont led early 7-5. The Eagles soared ahead and claimed the first set 25-13, but Piedmont made it tougher in the second set. The two were tied at 16, but four straight points for Bridgewater forced the Lady Lions to call a timeout. 

Piedmont could not overcome the deficit dropping the second set 25-21 and the Eagles claimed the win with a 25-18 win in the third set. ERICA BALKCUM led Piedmont with 10 kills and two blocks while ALI WILKINS and JENNA WENDEL both had 10 or more assists.

Piedmont jumped out to a 1-0 led over Hollins with a 25-19 win, but Hollins tied the match with a 25-16 win of their own in set two. The Lady Lions claimed the third set but were overpowered in the fourth forcing the deciding set. 

In the fifth, Piedmont led 14-13, but lost the final three points to drop the final set 16-14. It was a similar ending to the home opener against Truett McConnell where the Lady Lions claimed the final three points in the fifth set to take the win. 

The Lady Lions had 50 kills to Hollins' 40 with DESTINEE JACKSON leading Piedmont with 12 kills. LAINEY CHOINIERE had 24 digs while Balkcum added 14. 

Turning Point
--The Lady Lions pulled closest in the second set against the Eagles, but could not keep pace with Bridgewater losing 3-0.
--Against Hollins, the two went back-and-forth in sets, but Hollins was able to claim both the fourth and fifth for the win. 

Standout Performances
--Piedmont recorded 10 blocks between the two matches. 
--DESTINEE JACKSON led Piedmont with 12 kills against Hollins.

News & Notes
--Three of the last four matches for the Lady Lions have been five-set matches. 

Up Next
--Piedmont faces tourney host Roanoke College at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning. 

How to Follow
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