GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College volleyball team pushed its winning streak to four matches with a pair of USA South Athletic Conference victories Saturday.
 
The Pride defeated Agnes Scott, 3-1, before defeating Piedmont College for the first time in six years, 3-2.
 
In its opening match, Greensboro (12-6, 4-2 USA South) raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first set. Darrian Bolt started the run with a service ace before Evan Sherer, Shayla Moss, and Emily Horn each recorded one kill.
 
The Scotties (8-6, 3-3 USA South) battled back to within 16-14, but Greensboro used a 7-1 run to extend its margin to eight points before going on to win the set 25-18. Meredith Summers and Horn each accounted for two kills during the run.
 
Greensboro then dropped the second set in a back-and-forth fashion, 25-23, to even the match.
 
The Pride used its emotions of the second set to establish an early 4-0 lead in the third set. Rachel Suttee had one service ace during the run, while Tori Belcher and Horn capped off the run with one kill each.
 
Greensboro continued its hot start by using a 14-2 run to win the set 25-9, taking a 2-1 match lead.
 
Following the dominating Set 3 victory, the Pride closed out the match with a 25-23 win Set 4 despite trailing 8-0 early.
 
Sherer recorded a team-high 16 kills, while Horn and Moss combined for 24 kills. Bolt had a match-high 32 assists while also tallying a match-high six service aces. Belcher paced the defense with 20 digs.
 
"We proved that we could battle back from behind," Head Coach Kaci Pike said. "I was really proud of the girls' performance against a really scrappy Agnes Scott team."
 
After defeating the Scotties, Greensboro defeated the Lions of Piedmont College (10-7, 3-3 USA South) by scores of 22-25, 25-10, 20-25, 25-23, and 16-14. The victory over the Lions was the first for Greensboro since Sept. 10, 2010.
 
Piedmont took a 15-7 lead in the first set, but with a 7-0 run Greensboro back within 15-14. Belcher sparked the run with two service aces, while Sherer recorded two kills.
 
Despite a strong push by Greensboro, the Lions went on to win the first set 25-22. However, Greensboro regrouped quickly to even the match at one, 25-10.
 
Piedmont then won the third set before the Pride sent the match into a decisive fifth set.
 
With the score tied at five, Greensboro ran off six straight points, forcing the Lions to use their first timeout. Bolt paced the run with two service aces, while Moss and Sherer capped the span with back-to-back kills.
 
Piedmont responded with six points of its own to tie the score at 11, but Greensboro closed out the match with a two-point victory.
 
Brandy Johnson had a match-high 15 kills, while Horn and Summers combined for 22 kills. Greensboro recorded 17 service aces; Bolt and Belcher each had five.
 
"We started out a little bit hesitant against Piedmont as they are a big team and know what they are capable of," Pike said. "After fighting our way back into that first set, our confidence really picked up.  Following that point, we began to serve more aggressively to get Piedmont out of their offensive comfort zone as their middle attack does a good job attacking the zone.
 
"We stayed controlled, calm, and supportive for each other throughout both matches today."
 
The Pride will return to Mayo C. Harlow Memorial Court Sunday for another USA South Athletic Conference quad-match. Greensboro will square off with the Hawks of Huntingdon College at 10 a.m. before facing the Panthers of LaGrange College at 4 p.m. For more information on Pride volleyball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.