Piedmont’s transition from USA South to the Collegiate Conference of the South has been smooth, with the exception of Brevard College being replaced by Belhaven University in the new conference. 

 However, in July, it was confirmed that Berea College would be leaving the CCS and joining the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Their replacement would be Asbury University, also located in Kentucky and was recently accepted as a full member of the NCAA. 

 With the new addition, some athletes are not sure how they feel. 

 “It makes no difference to me as we still have to travel to Kentucky in order to play Asbury,” junior soccer player Savannah Jerome says. “However, I feel like having a new team enter the conference could evoke some better competition.” 

 An hour separates Berea College and its replacement, which increases what was once a 5-and-a-half-hour bus ride to a 6-hour drive. 

 This can explain senior volleyball player Bryn White’s claim of “hoping a team closer to Piedmont would join the conference, especially with Belhaven’s addition two years ago. Long travel can have some negative impacts on us athletes.” 

 The Lions’ men’s soccer team is the first to face the new member on September 28th on Asbury’s home turf.