NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Huntingdon 3, Piedmont 0
Match 2 Score: Berea 3, Piedmont 1
Record: Piedmont, 6-20 (6-10 CCS)
BEREA, Ky. - The Piedmont volleyball team concluded its 2022 regular season on Saturday afternoon with a pair of losses in a CCS Tri-Match against Huntingdon and Berea.
Hosted by Berea College, the Lady Lions began the day playing the middle match and falling in three sets to the Hawks before ending the evening by battling the Mountaineers to a four-set defeat.
Match 1: Huntingdon 3, Piedmont 0
In its first match of the day, Piedmont played Huntingdon tough in all three sets, but was unable to get over the top in each in the sweep.
It was an inauspicious start to the afternoon for the Lady Lions, as the Hawks won the first five points to begin the match. However, Piedmont battled back to win the next five in the first set to even things up before Huntingdon reeled off a 9-0 run midway through the set to pull away.
Both the second and third sets were much closer, as Piedmont fell 25-21 in the second and battled to a 25-22 loss in the third.
In just three sets, Piedmont libero
TAYLOR HERRMANN accumulated 29 total digs to lead the Lions while
BROOKLYN GUNN (13) and
JENNIFER HERRERA (10) reached double digits in digs.
Sophomore
JIA WEATHERSBYÂ and junior
ALAINA MCDONALD tied for the team lead with six kills apiece. Weathersby also paced the Lions with four block assists as Piedmont held a 6-4 overall edge in blocks over the Hawks.
Match 2: Berea 3, Piedmont 1
The Lady Lions rebounded from the loss in match one and raced out to a fast start against Berea. Piedmont jumped ahead early in the set, withstood a Mountaineers comeback midway through, and finally pulled away late to jump ahead 1-0 in the match.
JENNA ASH's kill off an assist from Gunn off a dig by Herrmann proved to be the final point as the Lions won the first set 25-21. Piedmont tallied 14 kills in the set punctuated by a fantastic .314 hitting percentage.
Unfortunately, the Mountaineers roared back to win the next three sets and turn the tables on the Lions.Â
Berea was able to eke out a 25-22 win in the second set to even the match at 1-1 before rolling to a dominant 25-13 win in the third and were able to close out the win with a 25-20 win in the deciding fourth set.
Freshman Katie Hubbard's kill for Piedmont gave it a 22-21 lead in the second set, but the Mountaineers rattled off four points in a row to swing the momentum of the match.
Ash was fantastic for the Lions in the second match, totaling 10 kills and four block assists, both leading the team. Herrmann added 30 more digs while Gunn led the team once again, this time reaching 20 assists.
The Saturday doubleheader marks the end of the team's regular season and the Lions will look ahead to the beginning of the CCS Tournament.
Piedmont is currently in line to be the No. 6 seed as the first round is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 1.
TURNING POINT:
- The second match of the day turned on Berea's 4-0 run to end the second set, evening the match at 1-1 and setting the tone for the Mountaineers to win the third and fourth sets.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-
TAYLOR HERRMANNÂ totaled 59 digs over seven sets to pace the Lions.
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