The Century Club has seen all A’s this spring at Piedmont. Three athletes reached career milestones at the start of their 2024 seasons. Senior women’s tennis player Abbey Grace Venham reached 100 wins in her career, and junior women’s lacrosse players Aly Reece and Ava Trankina hit 100 points in their Piedmont careers.
Abbey Grace Venham
Venham is a consecutive two-time conference MVP and three-time conference champion, with two in the USA South and one in the Collegiate Conference of the South. Now, Venham is a member of the 100-win club.
“I had no idea that was my 100th win until Trey [Martin] came up to me after the match and said ‘By the way, you just broke 100,’” said Venham. “I high fived Bri [Laidman] and thanked her for putting up with me.”
Venham reached 100 wins against Ohio Northern University, in a doubles match with partner Bri Laidman. Venham has partnered with nine players on the court in her Piedmont career, and been a mainstay in the first line of singles.
Venham said: “It means a lot to me. I’ve worked really hard for it. I would not rewrite the last four years of my life for anything.”
Aly Reece
Four games into Reece’s third season in attack for the women’s lacrosse team, she has a total of 101 points in her career. In both of her previous seasons, Reece has totaled more assists to her teammates than goals for herself.
“It feels great. Obviously, getting those assists can’t be done without my other teammates doing what they need to do,” said Reece.
Reece’s freshman season ended with her tied first for assists on the team, and currently leads the team in assists, with 10 on the season. In 2023, she was ranked seventh in the USA South for assists per game, and sixth in 2022.
Reece said: “I just go into each game trying to do what I can for my team and trying to help us get the win. If I get the points, I get the points, but it’s not the biggest thing for me.”
Ava Trankina
Trankina may not have started her college career at Piedmont, but has quickly become one of the team’s most productive players. Last season, Trankina’s first year as a Lion, she posted a team-high 58 goals, and third-best 28 assists.
“It means the world to me that I get opportunities [at Piedmont],” said Trankina. “That wouldn’t have happened, though, without my teammates.”
In just four games this season, Trankina leads Piedmont women’s lacrosse with 14 goals, tacking on four assists. This puts her at 104 points, with the rest of her junior and senior seasons still left to play.
Trankina said: “I just love everything about the school and the team. That’s why I’m having fun.”
Trankina and Reece became the tenth and 11th players, respectively, to reach the Piedmont women’s lacrosse 100-point club. Both accomplished the feat in the Feb. 24 game against Sewanee.
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