GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday on Day 1 of the 2016 Greensboro College Volleyball Invitational.
 
The Pride fell to Piedmont in straight sets to open the day before defeating Eastern Mennonite University, 3-2, in thrilling fashion.
 
Greensboro (4-3) jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set against Piedmont before the Lions used a 5-0 run to take a one-point advantage.
 
Later in the set, Piedmont pulled away with a 9-2 run to win 25-18. The Lions then closed out the match with wins of 25-20 and 25-22.
 
Emily Horn led the Pride with 10 kills, while Shayla Moss and Meredith Summers added six kills each. Haley Borher and Katie Clark paced the Pride offensive attacks with eight assists each. Darrian Bolt added seven assists.
 
After dropping the opening match to Piedmont, the Pride used a strong offensive attack to top the Royals of Eastern Mennonite in five sets.
 
Greensboro raced out to a 9-4 lead to open the first set. Bolt, who had a team-high two service aces, got the run started with her first ace before Shayla Moss capped the run off with an explosive smash into the middle of the Royals defense.
 
EMU then battled back to tie the set at 24 before going on to take the first set 34-32.
 
Greensboro responded to win the next two sets (25-21, 25-22), but sent the match into a decisive fifth set.
 
The Pride came out strong in the decisive set, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Emily Horn, Meredith Summers, and Brandy Johnson each had one kill during the spurt.
 
Following a timeout, the Royals charged right back to tie the set at 7 and 13.
 
Then the Pride went on a 3-1 run to close out the match with a 16-14 set victory.
 
Summers finished with a match-high 18 kills, while Shayla Moss and Evan Sherer combined for 27 kills. Bolt tallied 38 assists to lead the Pride. Breanna Wilton and Tori Belcher combined for 41 assists.
 
"We are really pleased to come out with a split on Day 1," Head Coach Kaci Pike said. "Even though it was a really disappointing loss to open the day, we wanted to come out and set the pace for the remainder of the tournament.
 
"I am really proud of the way the team responded after the opening loss to come back and defeat a really quality team in Eastern Mennonite. Overall, our team performed well in both matches."
 
The Pride volleyball team will return to Mayo C. Harlow Memorial Court Sunday for Day 2 of the 2016 Greensboro College Volleyball Invitational. Greensboro will take on Emory & Henry College at noon before closing out the event against Elizabeth City State University at 6 p.m. For more information on Pride volleyball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.