NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Covenant 3, Piedmont 0
Score: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 0
Records: Piedmont, 7-9 (5-1 CCS); Covenant, 15-1 (5-0 CCS); LaGrange, 2-10 (1-4 CCS)

LaGRANGE, Ga. - The Piedmont volleyball team split Saturday's CCS conference tri-match with a straight sets win over LaGrange after suffering the first conference loss of the season to Covenant. 

The Lions are now second in the league standings behind the Scots who sit at 5-0 while Piedmont is 5-1.

Match 1: Covenant 3, Piedmont 0

The Lions were unable to keep pace with the Scots though it was competitive throughout. Piedmont was held to 18 twice and 17 in the second set. 

JENNA ASH led the Lions with 12 kills marking her sixth game this season with double digit kills. KAYLEE ASHCRAFT was just off Ash's pace with eight kills and three aces. 

VANESSA MANZO posted 32 total assists while TAYLOR HERRMANN added 19 digs. 

Covenant just barely held the edge in total kills with 44 to Piedmont's 38 though Piedmont had 11 more errors than the Scots. 

Match 2: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 0 

The Lions had to get their feet back under them in the opening set after the loss to the Scots, leaving LaGrange within striking distance in the first set. After a 25-21 win for Piedmont, the Lions left no doubt allowing the Panthers to score just 11 and nine in the second and third sets, respectively. 

The second set saw KAYLEE ASHCRAFT tally four straight aces to help Piedmont to an 18-8 lead, as part of a 13-2 run for the Lions. 

The third set featured more of the same with large runs for the Lions as Piedmont scored 10 straight to lead 14-3 early. The Panthers did themselves no favors with eight attack errors in the third set alone. 

Piedmont had 36 kills to LaGrange's 17 and the Lions committed just 10 attack errors in the match. 

Up next, the Lions will host Berea and Huntingdon on Saturday, October 7 for a CCS tri-match. 

TURNING POINT:
-- Piedmont led early with a hot start against Covenant, but the Scots took control with a 6-0 run to lead 21-17 in the first set. 
-- The Panthers kept it close through the first set, but Piedmont left no doubt in the final two to take the 3-0 win over LaGrange. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
-- JENNA ASH led Piedmont with 12 kills against Covenant. 
-- KAYLEE ASHCRAFT had a season-high nine aces against LaGrange, 

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on X @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook.