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Piedmont Claims GSAC Championship And NCAA Berth With 3-1 Win Over Huntingdon
Story and Photo Courtesy of the Piedmont Athletics Site
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Decatur, GA -- The Piedmont College volleyball team
claimed its first Great South Athletic Conference Championship
Tournament crown since 2007 with a 3-1 victory over the top seeded
Lady Hawks of Huntingdon College earlier this afternoon. The
title also gives Piedmont the GSAC's automatic berth into the NCAA
Division-III National Tournament.
The Lady Lions had a battle on their hands from the start in
today's GSAC final taking the first set 26-24 only to see
Huntingdon tie it up with a 25-21 set two win. However,
Piedmont would rally to close the door with two straight set
victories 25-22 and 25-19 to earn the 3-1 overall match
victory.
Senior outside hitter Kalin
DeMarrais led the way for PC with another double-double
earning 11 kills and 16 digs on the day while classmate Heather
Stafford earned 14 digs to help in the cause.
Defense was the name of the game again for the championship squad
with four players posting double-digit dig numbers.
Sophomore libero Paige
Eslinger was the leader in digs for the match with her 27
helping to stave off a ferocious Huntingdon attack at the
net. In her first GSAC championship match appearance,
freshman setter Katheryn
Knarr played well dishing out 14 set assists.
The win gives Piedmont its sixth consecutive 20-win season moving
the team to 20-13 overall. By virtue of their tournament
title, the team also claims the GSAC's automatic berth into the
NCAA Division-III National Tournament with their opponent to be
named later.
