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Season Recap: Women's Tennis

By Joseph Garwood: Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

6/15/2021 10:19:00 AM

2021 PIEDMONT WOMEN'S TENNIS SEASON RECAP

The Lady Lions continued to elevate the program in 2021, finishing the campaign with a 16-6 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the USA South.
Piedmont captured the USA South West Division Regular Season Title with a dominant run through its conference regular season.
Of Piedmont's seven conference wins, five were in shutout fashion as the team only lost three total lines over the conference season.
Earning the No. 1 seed in the West Division for the USA South Tournament, the Lady Lions dispatched rival Huntingdon, 9-0, in the first round to advance to the USA South Tournament Final, where they fell to N.C. Wesleyan.
Piedmont was well represented on the All-Conference Listing as five Lady Lions were honored including Player of the Year (Imani Vincent) and Coach of the Year (Trey Martin).
The Lady Lions also reached No. 12 in the Atlantic South Regional Rankings, the highest in program history.

2020-21 Schedule / Results

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Coming off a season-opening loss at Division II Young Harris, the Lady Lions traveled to Birmingham to battle BSC on back-to-back days.
Piedmont picked up its first win of the season in thrilling fashion as freshman Melissa Gish delivered a clutch three-set win at No. 5 singles.
Then, the very next day, the Lady Lions prevailed by a 5-4 margin once again as senior Megan Waldheim delivered the clincher while also breaking the program record for singles wins and combined wins.

On March 13, Piedmont welcomed Maryville to Demorest and dispatched the Scots 9-0 as five seniors from the 2020 and 2021 class were honored
The group of CAROLINE CONNELLY, MORGAN BUCHHOLZ, KARA LANDSIEDEL, MAGGIE MOODY and MEGAN WALDHEIM all set numerous records and have led the program to new heights.
The senior duo of Waldheim and Moody was pushed to the brink at No. 1 doubles, but the pair came through with an 8-7 win, taking the tiebreaker to help PC pull off the clean sweep heading to singles.
With the Lady Lions taking the match at No. 6 by default, they needed just one more win to clinch the match, which was provided by Landsiedel, who rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 4.

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Already 3-0 in conference play and riding an overall eight-match win streak, the Lady Lions on April 3 welcomed conference foe Huntingdon, traditionally one of their toughest opponents within the USA South West Division.
The afternoon began as the No. 1 doubles team of MAGGIE MOODY and MEGAN WALDHEIM were perfect in an 8-0 win to put the first Piedmont point on the board. After KARA LANDSIEDEL and ABBEY GRACE VENHAM prevailed, 8-4, at No. 3, the underclassmen duo of sophomore IMANI VINCENT and freshman MELISSA GISH rolled to an 8-1 win at No. 2 to complete the doubles sweep.
Needing just two matches to clinch the win, it did not take the Lady Lions long to do just that. Venham struck first with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 before the senior Waldheim put the exclamation point on the match, battling to win her first set, 6-4, before rolling to a 6-0 win in the second, giving PC the win.

Already owning one 9-0 home shutout over Huntingdon, Piedmont welcomed the Hawks back to Demorest and delivered the same fate, with another 9-0 win, this time in the USA South Tournament First Round.
The afternoon began with a dominant performance in doubles. The underclassmen duo of USA South Player of the Year IMANI VINCENT and MELISSA GISH put the first point on the board with an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles. Moments later, the lead was 2-0 as all-conference players ABBEY GRACE VENHAM and KARA LANDSIEDEL rolled to an 8-3 victory at No. 3. Finally, the No. 1 doubles team of seniors MEGAN WALDHEIM and MAGGIE MOODY were pushed slightly, but answered the bell and won, 8-4, to complete the doubles sweep.
Rolling into singles action needing just two lines to advance, it did not take the Lady Lions long to clinch the match as quick two-set wins from Gish (6-1, 6-1) at No. 6 and Moody (6-0, 6-0) at No. 4 ensured a trip to the conference title match for Piedmont.
This marked the second consecutive USA South Tournament in which Piedmont advanced to the finals.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

IMANI VINCENT | SO. | LAWRENCEVILLE, GA.

Became first in program history to earn USA South Player of the Year.
Took home three USA South Player of the Week awards and was a perfect 6-0 in USA South singles matches.
All six of those wins were in straight sets and in four of them, she prevailed 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles action, she partnered with freshman MELISSA GISH at the No. 2 spot and went 3-0 there while also picking up a win with freshman MARION SLOYAN at No. 3 for a perfect 4-0 doubles mark.

MEGAN WALDHEIM | SR. | BERKELEY LAKE, GA.

Holds the program records for career singles and career combined wins.
Her all-conference honor this year marks the third time in three seasons of eligibility that she has been named to an All-USA South team.
Produced a perfect 5-0 mark in conference singles action with all five coming at the No. 2 position.
In doubles action, Waldheim partnered with MAGGIE MOODY to go 5-1 in the USA South and 12-7 overall, all of which came at No. 1. The duo earned USA South Doubles Team of the Week honors twice during the season.

ABBEY GRACE VENHAM | FR. | COVINGTON, GA.

Produced a 10-3 overall singles record and was perfect in her two conference matches.
Was versatile all season, picking up a singles win at each spot in the lineup from No. 2 through No. 6.
In doubles action, she was a stellar 11-3 overall including an unbeaten 5-0 in conference matches.

KARA LANDSIEDEL | SR. | WOODSTOCK, GA.

Earned All-USA South honors for the second time in her career.
Produced a perfect 5-0 mark in conference and delivered 11 overall wins.
In doubles action, she partnered with Venham to lock down the No. 3 position, producing a 5-0 USA South record.
Landsiedel's 14 overall doubles wins tied with Vincent and Gish for the most on the squad.

MAGGIE MOODY | SR. | MACON, GA.

Went 4-0 in conference singles matches and picked up nine singles wins overall.
Partnered with Waldheim to go 5-1 in the USA South at No. 1 doubles.
The duo's strong work allowed them to earn two USA South Doubles Team of the Week awards.

MELISSA GISH | FR. | LOGANVILLE, GA.

TREY MARTIN | HEAD COACH | 3RD SEASON

Has yet to lose a conference regular season match in three seasons at the helm (15-0).
Has a 46-14 overall record as head coach.
In conference play, the Lady Lions won 37 of 39 singles lines and 18 out of 19 doubles lines.
Helped five Lady Lions earn All-USA South recognition, including Player of the Year Imani Vincent.

PICTURE WORTHY

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