The Piedmont volleyball team kicked off its 2025 campaign on Aug. 29-30 in a tournament at Truett McConnell University, losing its first match to the hosts 3-0.
The first set got out of hand as Piedmont dropped it 10-25. The Lions showed resiliency in the following sets, narrowing the gap and falling 23-25 and 22-25, respectively.
This match marked a new chapter for the program as head coach Kat Tatum began her tenure at the helm of the Lions.
“I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this team and to serve as the head volleyball coach here at Piedmont University,” says Tatum, a Buford native.
“’’Leave it better than you found it,’ is something we live by every day,” she continues. “For us, it goes beyond volleyball. It’s about competing with pride, giving back through community service, and representing Piedmont University volleyball in a way that sets the standard on and off the court.”
Tatum brings years of coaching experience to Demorest, including as an assistant at the Division III University of Saint Thomas (TX) and with A5 Volleyball Club, a team that has been nationally ranked as the #1 volleyball club.
On the court, the Lions were led by middle blocker Bailey Daughtery with five kills, and standout freshman Lauren Caricato tallied 12 digs for the match.
The Lady Lions dropped their second game in the tournament in straight sets to Tennessee Wesleyan University, 19-25, 21-25, 15-25.
The teams hung tough in the opening set before the Bulldogs closed on a 5–0 run to claim the win. Piedmont briefly led 10–7 in the second, but Tennessee Wesleyan stormed back with a 7–0 run to seize control. The Bulldogs left little doubt in the third, completing the sweep in dominant fashion.
Senior libero Zoe Coelho provided a bright spot for Piedmont, notching a team-high 21 digs — a career best for a three-set match.
“I think we held our own throughout the game,” Coelho said. “We had people step into positions they weren’t used to and they really rose to the occasion. One area we need to improve is finishing off sets, but that will come as the season goes on. Our energy and effort stayed strong regardless of the score, and I think we have a better dynamic than in the past.”
In its third match of the day, the Lions showed marked improvement against Brewton-Parker Christian University, falling 22-25, 22-25. 21-25.
“We did a good job portraying the ‘all-team, all-time’ mentality. It really came out on the court despite the outcome of the game,” said senior Katie Hubbard, who led the team with 11 kills and two blocks.
Top performers for the Lions included Zoe Coelho with 14 digs, Lauren Caricato, who earned 12 assists, and Sara Bjerke with five blocks. Although the Lions made substantial efforts in the second set, consistency in all three sets is their ultimate goal.
“Staying more focused and being more consistent throughout the set, so working mentally to get out of those ruts as a team instead of just individually,” said Hubbard.
In their final tournament match on Aug. 30, Piedmont fell to Point University 10-25, 21-25, 15-25.
“Our middles really established themselves and shone on Saturday, and we served aggressively with fewer errors than anyone we faced, which was big for us,” Tatum said.
Sophomore outside hitter Sara Bjerke and freshman Kya Perkinson paced the LIons with six kills each. Setter Lauren Caricato finished with nine assists and two service aces, while libero Ana Coelho anchored the back row with 16 digs. The Lady Lions totaled 21 kills and 20 assists.
Despite being swept, Tatum said the team has shown resilience in its opening weekend, demonstrated by the improvement over its first few matches. “I’m so proud of this group and how much they’ve already grown together. Saturday was a step forward for us because of the way our girls competed and evolved throughout the match.”
“At Piedmont University Volleyball, it’s not just about wins and losses, it’s about building a culture of pride, discipline, and resilience. As I tell the team often, it’s not where you begin that matters, it’s where you finish that makes all the difference, and we’re on the right track.”
Piedmont next travels to Huntingdon on Sept. 5 for a four-game weekend tournament, including a match against coach Tatum’s former St. Thomas team.
