The LaGrange College Volleyball Team (7-19, 4-10 Collegiate Conference of the South) was on the losing end of tri-match play Saturday (Oct. 26), dropping both matches to Covenant College (15-12, 9-4 CCS) and Piedmont University (5-16, 5-8 CCS) by respective final scores of 3-0 and 3-2. Graduating Panthers Britney Chavez and Ciera Phelps (assistant coach) were celebrated prior to the second match.

Match One Details
The Panthers were simply outclassed in their first match against the Scots of Covenant, who won by scores of 25-12, 25-8 and 25-14 to earn the straight-set victory. Zentrina Choice led the team with five kills, followed by three-kill performances from Kaitlin Gilchrist and Claire Titus. Defensively, Julia Damico registered 14 digs and also led the Panthers with nine assists in the first match.  

Match Two Details
LaGrange engaged in one of the toughest battles of the entire season against Piedmont in the tri-match finale. The Panthers controlled a majority of the first set, as they led the entire way and had the chance to put the Lions away up 23-21 late. Piedmont would answer the bell, taking a shocking 24-23 lead as LC suddenly found their backs against the ropes with the win-by-two rule now in affect. The adversity was no match for Ella Kahikina and company, however, who scored the necessary three points to win the set 26-24 and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Panthers' mistake of letting Piedmont back into the set late in the first would come back to haunt them in the second stanza. Mary Brit Tallevast led the way with five kills as the Lions dominated 25-18 to knot the match up at one-apiece.

LC answered right back in the third set, as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead early. Both teams would find their stride as they went back and forth, finding themselves tied 12-12 midway through the set. A Panther run of 13-2 would earn them the 25-14 win to regain their match lead with a chance to knock off the Lions for good in the fourth.

PU had other plans in the fourth set, unfortunately, as they bursted to 7-2 lead early in the set. The Panthers were able to battle back, bringing the set within two as the Lions led 12-10 halfway through the fourth. That effort would prove to be of no avail as the Lions finished off the set with a 13-6 run to tie the match once again, forcing a winner-take-all scenario with a fifth set.

Needing only 15 to win, the Panthers took firm control as they led for a majority of the final set. The match would come to a head when they took an 11-8 lead to put themselves in prime position to win the match, needing only four more points to win. What happened next was a nightmare scenario for the young Panthers, as Piedmont stormed back with six unanswered points to take a 14-11 lead late in the contest. Although stunned, LC came together and scored what they hoped was their first of the three points needed to tie and force the win-by-two rule. Sadly, the late rally would fall short as Piedmont survived to win 15-12 to secure the match 3-2, stunning the packed Richter Gym crowd of over 100 Panther faithful.  

Next Match
The Panthers will finish the season on the road as they head to Tuskegee University on Tuesday (Oct. 29) and then Decatur, Ga for tri-match action against Maryville College and host Agnes Scott College on Nov. 2. For links to stream the matches and live stats for each, click here.