(DEMOREST, Ga. )– In the CCS Quarterfinals, the Piedmont volleyball team was unable to keep pace with the Berea Mountaineers after taking the first two sets in a tough 3-2 loss inside Cave Arena Tuesday evening.

In the opening set, Piedmont trailed 21-18 and a timeout was called. The Lions came out of the break charging and tied the contest at 23 all. It took extra points, but a kill from Jenna Ash and an attack error from the Mountaineers put the first set in favor of Piedmont 26-24.

After stealing away the opening set, the Lions came out hot in the second, building a 9-3 lead out of the gate. The offense was suffocating in the second set with a 25-14 win leaving no room for doubt as Piedmont took a 2-0 lead.

The Lions then struggled in the third set dropping it 25-18 and trailed late in the fourth set 20-16 before a Piedmont timeout was called. After back-to-back points for the Lions out of the timeout, Berea called timeout to attempt to stall the comeback.

It was enough to force a fifth set as the Mountaineers claimed the fourth set 25-19. The Lions and Mountaineers went to five sets in each of the three meetings between the two this season.

In the fifth, it was all Mountaineers early as they quickly made it 9-3 before the Lions began to chip away at the deficit. It was too little too late for the Lions as Berea won 15-8 to advance and face Covenant in the semifinals on Friday in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

TURNING POINT:
–After a comeback win in the first set, Piedmont was unable to keep the momentum going despite taking a 2-0 lead as Berea earned the win in five sets.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
—Jenna Ash totaled 14 kills in the match with seven coming in the first set as she had an impressive .583 attack percentage in the opening set.
—Katie Hubbard also tallied 14 kills while Kaylee Ashcraft added 11.
—Taylor Herrmann ended her career with 32 digs in the contest to lead all student-athletes.

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