Behind a career-best 15 kills from standout sophomore Katie Hubbard, the Piedmont volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 sweep over Wesleyan in its Collegiate Conference of the South opener on Wednesday night at Cave Arena.
The Lions were dominant in all three sets and improve to a perfect 2-0 inside Cave Arena.
Hubbard led all players with 15 kills, surpassing her previous career high of 14, set earlier this season against Roanoke. The sophomore from Aurora, Colorado, was also highly efficient, generating a .520 attack percentage.
She was joined in double figures by Jenna Ash, who delivered 10 kills to go with a .250 attack percentage.
Reigning CCS Rookie of the Week Kaylee Ashcraft continued her service magic with six more service aces while also adding nine kills and 18 digs, which was good for second on the team behind Taylor Herrmann’s 23.
The Wolves led early on in the first set, but a quick 5-0 run from the Lions turned a 6-4 deficit into a 9-6 lead and Piedmont never looked back from there. Ashcraft delivered back-to-back service aces to make it 18-9 in favor of Piedmont and Ash closed out the set with an emphatic kill.
The second set was even more dominant, as Piedmont won 14 straight points on Ashcraft’s serve to close out a 25-8 win and put them one set away from the 3-0 sweep.
SERVE. IT. OUT.
Reigning CCS Rookie of the Week Kaylee Ashcraft serves out a 13-0 run and your Lions lead Wesleyan 2-0!! pic.twitter.com/c81A42zWUG
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) September 20, 2023
Wesleyan provided some resistance early in the third, but once again, eventually, the Lions took control. Fittingly, it was an Ashcraft service ace that closed out the festivities.
Make it a clean sweep 🧹
Your Lions close it out in 3!! pic.twitter.com/uJ4tjG68AZ
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) September 20, 2023
Up next, the Lions will head to Maryville for their first CCS Tri-Match of the season, taking on the host Scots and Belhaven this Saturday, September 23.
TURNING POINT:
– Ashcraft led a dominant 14-0 run to close out the second set and give Piedmont complete control of the match.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Hubbard’s 15 kills marks her second time in double figures in kills this season.
– Ashcraft’s six service aces gives her 34 for the season, tops in the CCS.
– Ash’s 10 kills marks her third time in double figures this season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
– Piedmont’s .313 hitting percentage is its best of the 2023 season.
– The team’s 50 kills is tied for the second-most this season.
