Belhaven University Athletics

DEMOREST, Ga. - Belhaven pushed Piedmont to the final points of every set Friday night, but the Lions held on for a 25-23, 25-23, 28-26 win at Cave Arena.

The loss moved the Blazers to 9-10 overall and 4-3 in the Collegiate Conference of the South. Piedmont improved to 11-8 and 2-5 in league play, splitting the season series after Belhaven swept the Lions in Jackson on Oct. 3.

Piedmont built a 17-10 lead in the opening set before Belhaven scored six straight points behind Megan LaCour's serve. A Tarryn Woodall kill and a block by Woodall and LaCour helped bring the Blazers within one. The teams traded points down the stretch, and Laila Gauthier's kill gave Belhaven a 23-22 lead. Lillian Gaskins answered with a kill before Kinsey Prado put away the final two points for Piedmont.

The Lions led the second set 16-12, but Belhaven worked back to 18-18 and moved in front 20-19 on consecutive Woodall kills. A Goldie Lowe-Gauthier block later put the Blazers ahead 22-21. LaCour drew Belhaven even again at 23-23, but Sydney Speer's kill and a Piedmont block closed the set.

Belhaven made one more push in the third. Trailing 24-22, the Blazers got a kill from LaCour, a Lowe service ace and a Woodall kill to take a 25-24 lead. Piedmont fought off the set point, and Woodall answered another Lions point with a kill to tie it at 26. An Anni McCarthy-Lillian Gaskins block and an Alexandrea Dorman kill ended the match.

Kayla Robinson led all players with 33 digs, while Woodall paced Belhaven with 11 kills and added 14 digs. LaCour finished with eight kills and 17 digs, and Gauthier added eight kills. Angel Edwards recorded 20 assists, and Kylie Lindsey had 10.

The Blazers continue their Georgia trip tomorrow at Agnes Scott.

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