LaGrange swept away visiting Piedmont on Sunday in Mariotti Gym. The Panthers (3-1, 2-0 USA South) won the conference counting match 3-0; then completed the sweep with another 3-0 win in the non-conference match with the Lady Lions (2-2, 1-1 USA South).

LC opened the afternoon winning the first match 25-20, 25-20, and 25-15. The Panthers took the second match by scores of 25-20, 25-16, and 25-21.

Sophomore Ariel Modeste and freshman Journey Oden had nine kills each to pace LC in the first match. The duo along with Kaela Busby and Yasmin Roper helped the Panthers control the net. Modeste had a solo block and five assisted blocks. Roper had a solo and two assists, while Oden had two solos and Busby had three assists.

Modeste had a match-best .613 attack percentage, while Roper added eight kills and a .438 attack percentage. Oden finished with a .412 attack percentage, while Busby added seven kills. As a team, LC had a .283 attack percentage, including a .333 mark in the third and final set.

Tied at 15 in the first set of the conference-counting match, the Panthers scored seven of the next points to go up 22-16. Oden's kill broke the ties and the Lady Lions helped LC with four attack errors, one coming in a solo block by Roper. Piedmont closed within four, 24-20, before Roper's kill closed out the set.

Piedmont built an 11-6 lead in the second set before the Panthers rallied. Oden once again broke a tie to put LC ahead to stay. Oden's kill was one of four straight points as the Panthers went up 22-18. The Lady Lions never got closer and Modeste's kill clinched the set for a 2-0 lead.

LC closed out the match with a surge midway through the third set. Trailing 13-12, the Panthers outscored Piedmont 13-2 the rest of the way to win the set going away. Seven different Panthers recorded a kill in the set, led by Busby's four.

In the non-conference match, LC got off to a slow start. The Panthers were down 10-4 early and 20-14 late in the set. LC ripped off 11 straight unanswered points to take the set. The Panthers were aided by five straight Lady Lion attack errors. Busby closed out the set with a kill for the 25-20 final.

LC was never threatened in the second set. Busby had six kills alone in the set. She put the Panthers ahead to stay with one kill and with another gave them their largest lead, 24-14.

The Panthers broke out to an early lead in the final set. They led 20-12 after Oden's kill, but Piedmont ran off five straight points to close the gap. Oden ended the set and the match with a solo block.

McKenzie Richards led the Panthers with 10 kills in the second match. Kirsten Boyd had 34 assists in the first set. Boyd had a double-double of 29 assists and 19 digs in the second set. Bre Dufault had 11 digs in the first match and 16 more in the second match.

The Panthers play at Brevard next Sunday.