The Piedmont volleyball team split a conference tri-match Saturday with a win over Berea in a tight five-setter and a loss to Huntingdon in the final match of the day.
Match 1: Piedmont 3, Berea 2
It was a battle till the end for Piedmont against Berea in a 3-2 win, with a 15-10 victory for Piedmont in the final set. The Lions looked ready to close it out in the fourth set, but Berea made a late charge to force the fifth.
It was an electric atmosphere inside Cave Arena as Piedmont took a 10-6 lead in the last set, including forcing a Mountaineers timeout. The Lions allowed just two more kills for Berea in the final points to earn the win.
Jenna Ash tied a season-high 19 kills to lead all competitors, while Katie Hubbard also tied a career-high with 15 kills. Vanessa Manzo tallied 49 assists, while Taylor Herrmann added 35 digs, eclipsing the 1,000 dig mark for her career.
There were a total of 100 digs for the Lions, with 61 kills for Piedmont. That marks the most kills for the Lions since October of 2021 at Wesleyan (62 kills).
Berea barely edged out the Lions in the opening set 25-23, but Piedmont rallied to even it at one set each with a 25-18 win in the second set.
The third set was again in favor of Piedmont, 25-22, but it was the Mountaineers who claimed the fourth set in come-from-behind fashion, 25-19.
Piedmont also had eight aces to the Mountaineers’ two.
Match 2: Huntingdon 3, Piedmont 0
The Lions were unable to get momentum in the last match of the day as Huntingdon controlled it throughout. It was close in the first with a 25-21 win for the Hawks before a 25-12 decision and a 25-18 set to end it.
Piedmont nearly mounted a comeback in the final set leading 17-14, but the Hawks outscored the Lions 11-1 down the stretch.
Taylor Herrmann added 20 digs against the Hawks, while Ash and Kaylee Ashcraft both tallied eight kills.
Up next, the Lions will compete at Wesleyan on Wednesday, October 11, at 6 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
–Piedmont was unable to close it out in the fourth set against Berea, but in the fifth, the Lions built an early lead and held on for the victory.
–The Hawks were able to use the motivation of losing to Berea in five sets to power past the Lions in a 3-0 win.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
–In the Berea match, Taylor Herrmann eclipsed 1,000 career digs.
