After a poor performance at Gaston on Thursday of last week, Piedmont regrouped quickly and played well in the Oxford tournament Saturday.

In pool play, the Class 3A Bulldogs opened with a 25-13, 25-20 win over improving Class 3A White Plains. Class 6A Oxford then defeated Piedmont 25-17, 25-15. Piedmont closed with a 25-20, 25-22 win over Class 4A Saks and finished second in its pool.

In the championship bracket semifinals, Piedmont played Class 6A Homewood, the winner of the opposite pool. The Bulldogs stayed close for most of the first game before losing 25-16, 25-15.

"The way they played Saturday, that was the team I expect all year," said Piedmont coach Grace Strott.

"The way they played Thursday, I told them they looked like they were still in junior high."

At Oxford, Janissa McKinney, Brea Dixon and Aneisha Alexander each recorded 11 kills. McKinney had seven blocks while Alexander and Dixon had five blocks each. BreAnna Thompson had seven kills and seven blocks. Hilarie Hincy recorded 40 assists. On defense, libero Catie Hightower had 32 digs, Jeleca Johnson had 24 digs and Kelly Martin had 15 digs.

"I do have to say that the best thing I've done is move (Thompson) back to the middle," said Strott. "We're getting so many more touches on the ball (blocking) now."

"I think one of the main keys to how we played (Saturday) was how well that Hilarie Hincy and Kelly Martin moved together on the floor," Strott added. "The only negative thing is we're out of shape. We came out pretty strong against Homewood then they flat-footed us. Some of them were so tired."

Piedmont split a tri-match at Gaston against Gaston and Collinsville on Thursday of last week. Gaston defeated Piedmont 25-13, 25-21 and Piedmont downed Collinsville 25-11, 25-16. Thompson's three kills against Gaston and eight kills against Collinsville were the best for the Bulldogs in each match.

The Bulldogs brushed aside Glencoe in a best-of-five Area match on Tuesday of last week.

The scores were 25-8, 25-8, 25-8. Thompson had six kills while Dixon, Alexander, Hincy and Lauryn McCord each recorded four kills. Hincy had 15 assists and Tracy Freeman had 11 assists. Hincy added four service aces.

Piedmont put its new lineup on the floor at Weaver in an Area match against Weaver Tuesday. After their 3 of 5 meeting with the Bearcats, the Bulldogs were to play Pleasant Valley in a 2 of 3 match at Weaver. Thursday, Piedmont returns to Oxford for a 3 of 5 match against the Yellow Jackets.

Saturday will find the Bulldogs in Walnut Grove for the West End tournament. Piedmont's pool includes Westbrook Christian, Gaston and Crossville.

Piedmont plays its Area match against Pleasant Valley at Pleasant Valley Sept. 14. The following day the Bulldogs go to Ohatchee for a tri-match with Ohatchee and White Plains.