By: Manyi Eno, Staff Writer

The women’s volleyball team kept their heads held high in the match against Maryville Scots on Sept. 29, which ended their winning streak for the season.

In the first set of the match, it was a slow start for the Lady Lions, but they soon picked up speed staying quick on their feet. By the end of the set, Piedmont came out on top with a 27-25 win over the Scots.

The second set looked promising as the Lady Lions spiked the first point. Senior middle hitter Danielle Maffett did some intense blocking for the team. Piedmont tied the set at one point, but the Scots won the set 28-26.

By the third set, the Lady Lions charted the first point and then began to linger behind soon after. But it was not long before they began to catch up when double teamed by junior Kaitlin Norman and junior Jennifer Opper blocking the Scots spikes every chance they got. Maryville stayed strong the majority of the time and came out on top once again, scoring 25-20 over Piedmont.

In the fourth and last set of the match, Maryville stayed strong on their spikes, but Piedmont continued to block and dig their way through many failed spike attempts. By the end, Maryville won the set by 25-16, ending Piedmont’s historic winning streak.

“We played Maryville really well in the first and second game,” said women’s volleyball coach Sid Feldman.

“We were really lethargic because we just took a six hour bus ride back from Greensboro the night before,” Feldman said.

In the match against the Agnes Scott Scotties, the Lady Lions started off slow losing 25-21 in the first set.

Piedmont came back strong; winning 25-18 over the Scotties in the second and fourth set after and 25-13 in the third.

It was senior night for four of the players: Maffett, Jessica Hollis, Ashley Fannon and Katheryn Knarr. The four are the last class graduating from Piedmont’s volleyball program that was part of the 2010 team that won the conference title and won the program’s second trip to the NCAA National Tournament.

“In the first match, we could have played better,” said Maffett. “They’re a team we definitely could have beat, but they’re skillful so it’s good competition. Agnes Scott was not our best match, but we still pulled out a win and it was hard.”

“Maryville are our arch rivals, they always have been for the past four years, so they’re always going to give us a run for our money,” said Hollis. “We came in here and we played and fought hard, but I know we’ll get them next time. Agnes Scott is one of those team’s that make it or break it, and we almost beat ourselves, but we came back and got it done.”

Piedmont is now 16-2 overall on the season which puts them 3-1 in the league since their loss to Maryville is their first in the USA South. However, still amongst the 13 league members, the Lady Lions hold the best overall record.