NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Point 6, Piedmont 1
Records: Point, 3-6; Piedmont, 0-8

VALLEY, Ala. - Looking for its first win of 2021, the Piedmont men's tennis team battled but came up short on Tuesday evening in a road match at Point University.

Playing by NAIA rules, the Lions lost a heartbreaker to allow the SkyHawks to take the lone doubles point and then were able to take only one singles line in the loss.

The match began with a Point victory at No. 1 doubles before PC evened things at 1-1 with a 6-3 win from PATRICK DEMPSEY and ROMAN WEBB at No. 3 doubles. With the point on the line, the No. 2 doubles team of HOUSTON MEDLOCK and CHASE MORRIS battled, but fell in a tiebreaker, allowing the SkyHawks to jump ahead 1-0 heading to singles.

Point capitalized on the momentum and quickly was able to clinch the match with two-set victories at No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1. Playing at No. 1, Medlock fought in the first set, but fell, 7-5, before Point's Guido Luna clinched the match by taking the second set 6-2.

After Morris lost a hard-fought battle at No. 4 singles, Dempsey continued his solid singles run with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 6 to put a point on the board for the Lions. Dempsey's win improves him to 6-2 in singles this season, with all six wins coming at No. 6.

Picked to finish first in the USA South West Division Preseason Coaches Poll, the Lions will begin their conference slate with a home match this Saturday, March 13 at 2 p.m. against Maryville.

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