Panthers split matches with Methodist and Piedmont:
Oct. 6, 2007

LaGrange College split two matches Saturday at the CEB Gym. The Panthers swept Methodist University 3-0 after being swept 3-0 by Piedmont College in a GSAC match. The results leave the Panthers at 8-8 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

The Panthers beat Methodist by scores of 30-16, 30-24 and 30-26. They fell to Piedmont by scores 30-23, 30-27 and 30-15.

The Panthers set a season-high with 48 kills against Methodist. Britny Greensage and Heather Tidwell led the way with 10 kills each. The Panthers had a .265 hitting percentage, their second highest of the season. Greensage finished the match with a .471 hitting percentage.

In the first game against Methodist, the Panthers put down 19 kills and had a .359 hitting percentage. Greensage and Tidwell combined for nine kills in the game. The Panthers never trailed in the game and Methodist never got closer than a point in the early going. The Panthers pulled away down the stretch, with the 30-16 final their largest lead.

The Panthers did not trail in the second game either. The Lady Monarchs tied the game at 13-13,  but could never get the lead. The Panthers scored the next three points and never trailed again. A service ace by Ashley Vaughan stretched the Panthers' lead to six, 21-15. A kill by Lisa Burgee gave the Panthers their largest lead, 29-22. The Lady Monarchs survived two game points, before Burgee ended the game with a kill.

The final game was close from start to finish. Methodist jumped out to a 4-1 lead, their largest of the game. The Panthers tied the game and the two teams swapped leads. The Lady Monarchs tied the game for the 10th and final time at 23. Jennifer Fields put down a block to put the Panthers ahead to stay, 24-23. Tidwell closed out the game and the match with a short tip shot for the 30-27 win.

In the first game against Piedmont, the Panthers never led. The Lady Lions led 5-0 before the Panthers' got their first point. The Panthers trailed 13-6 before cutting the margin to two, 17-15. Piedmont answered with a 10-2 run to open up a 10-point lead. The Panthers made one last run in the game. Sara Newland's kill got the Panthers within five, 28-23. Piedmont closed out the match as the Panthers had a service error and an attack attempt went long for the final point.

In the second game, Piedmont again jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and never trailed. The Panthers got within a point, 5-4, but it was as close as they would get in the game. The Lady Lions led 29-19 before the Panthers rallied. The Panthers held off eight straight game points, closing to within two, 29-27, after a service ace by Kayla Black and a two-touch violation on the Lady Lions. But a service error by the Panthers ended the game.

Piedmont closed out the match in the third game. The game was played tightly early, with several lead changes and ties. The Panthers tied the game for the last time at 13 on back-to-back service aces by Casey Craig. Ashley Chima's kill put the Lady Lions ahead to stay. Piedmont closed out the game and the match with an 11-0 run.

Jessica Boler had eight kills to lead the Panthers. Kayla Black had a double-double of 16 assists and 15 digs.

The Panthers host Maryville on Sunday in a GSAC match beginning at 1 p.m.