“The Alabama Christian match … to me, they were the best team in our pool,” Piedmont coach Grace Strott said Monday. “When we faced them at the end of the day, we beat them in straight sets which proved to me we had gotten better.”
If the Bulldogs learned anything Saturday, it was this. They must take their ‘A’ game onto the floor from the very beginning. In its 8 a.m. game, against 4A Elmore County, Piedmont struggled to defeat the Panthers 22-25, 25-16, 15-12. Another slow start followed against Homewood. Strott said in the Elmore County match the Bulldogs were missing serves and “just looked real sloppy.”
Against Homewood, “We started off the same way. By the second set against Homewood, we started clicking and getting better, You could tell they weren’t even awake against Elmore County. I don’t think they were used to the pace of Homewood until that second set,” Strott said.
After splitting against Elmore County and Homewood, Piedmont defeated Montgomery Catholic, another 3A program, 16-25, 25-16, 15-11 to set up its match with Alabama Christian.
By finishing second in its pool, Piedmont moved to the silver level in the tournament’s single-elimination bracket. There the Bulldogs encountered long-time volleyball power Montgomery Academy and lost 25-12, 25-9.
“We had to face Montgomery Academy and that was just a different level of play,” Strott said. “Montgomery Academy was equivalent to (eventual overall tournament champion) UMS-Wright.”
After defeating Piedmont, Montgomery Academy won the silver championship with a 2-0 victory over Jacksonville.
Middle hitter Breanna Thompson led Piedmont’s attack with 20 kills and had eight blocks. Brea Dixon and Kelly Martin had 16 kills and 11 kills respectively. Setter Hilarie Hincy had 35 assists and added eight service aces. Libero Catie Hightower’s 38 digs topped the defensive effort.
“Our serve receive was awesome,” Strott said. “Our work paid off for that. Now I have to figure out who my other middle will be. We’re going to be doing a lot of middle drills (Monday). That’s all I’m going to focus on at practice.”
The Bulldogs were to play in a tri-match with Calhoun County powerhouses Pleasant Valley and Jacksonville Tuesday. Pleasant Valley brushed aside all comers Saturday to win the Saks Invitational. Jacksonville was the state 4A runner-up in 2009 and finished second in the silver bracket at the Capitol City Classic Saturday.
Strott said playing two quality teams immediately after the Montgomery tournament should help her team.
“I think that’s going to be good instead of playing a slower team,” she said.
Piedmont hosts Weaver Thursday and entertains Saks Monday. Both the Bearcats and the Wildcats are area opponents for the Bulldogs. Piedmont travels to Alexandria on Tuesday of next week.
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