NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Covenant 3, Piedmont 0
Match 2 Score: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 2
Records: Piedmont, 5-16 (5-8 CCS)

LaGRANGE, Ga. - Piedmont volleyball delivered an epic five-set comeback victory at LaGrange to earn a split in its penultimate CCS Tri-Match of the season on Saturday in LaGrange, Georgia.

After a three-set loss to begin the day against Covenant, the Lions battled back from down 2-1 and then down in the fifth set to deliver the comeback win and earn the season sweep over the Panthers.

 

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Big comeback win in five sets for Piedmont volleyball as the freshman Mary Brit Tallevast closes out the season sweep over LaGrange ???? pic.twitter.com/YnelnTMmIC

— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) October 26, 2024

Match 1: Covenant 3, Piedmont 0

Despite a close call in the first set, the Lions were unable to overcome a tough Covenant squad in a 3-0 loss in the team's first match of the day. The Lions kept the Scots from pulling away with a valiant effort.

Covenant went ahead 23-19, but Piedmont won three consecutive points to cut its deficit to 23-22. Unfortunately, the Scots were able to win two of the next three points to take the set.

From there, Covenant controlled the contest, pulling away with a 6-0 run midway through the second set to go up 2-0 with a 25-13 second set win.

Piedmont was able to flip the momentum to start the third set, racing out to a 4-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Scots rebounded quickly, pulling even at 6-6 and then using a 4-0 run shortly after to lead 10-8.

The Scots then used a 5-0 run to lead 15-10 and never were threatened again, closing out the 3-0 sweep with a 25-17 win in the third set.

Freshman Mary Brit Tallevast and senior Jessica Sconyers tied for the team lead with seven kills while freshman Sara Bjerke added six. Senior setter Vanessa Manzo paced the team with 21 assists and tied for a team-high nine digs.

Match 2: Piedmont 3, LaGrange 2

The second match of the day saw the Lions battle back multiple times to overtake LaGrange and earn the series sweep over the Panthers and a split on the day.

Katie Hubbard once again notched a career high in kills, putting down 17 to go with a .268 hitting percentage in the win. Tallevast added 15 kills, including one on the final point of the match, marking her second time this season reaching double digits.

After trailing for much of the first set by a substantial margin, the Lions fought all the way back to take the lead at 24-23 but were unable to complete the comeback, surrendering three straight LaGrange points to fall 26-24.

Piedmont never trailed in a dominant second set, pulling away early to even the match at 1-1. The Panthers responded with a 7-0 run midway through the third set to run away with a 25-14 win and take a 2-1 match lead over the Lions.

However, once again, Piedmont responded with a dominant 25-16 win in the fourth set to push the match to a deciding fifth set.

This one required yet another comeback from the Lions, as the Panthers raced to an 8-5 lead and eventually led 11-8. Piedmont then caught fire and stunned LaGrange, winning six consecutive points to flip the script and take a 14-11 lead.

While the Panthers staved off one match point, the Lions closed out the win on a kill by Tallevast to give Piedmont the victory.

Up next, the Lions will head to Agnes Scott for a CCS road match this Wednesday, October 30 at 7 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- In the five-set win over LaGrange, Piedmont responded after dropping the first and third sets with dominant efforts in the second and fourth.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Hubbard's 17 kills set a new career high for the junior from Colorado. This marks the third time this season in which she has set or matched a career high in kills.

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.