NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, Birmingham-Southern 3
Records: Piedmont, 2-0; Birmingham-Southern, 1-3

DEMOREST, Ga. - In its 2022 home opener, the Piedmont women's tennis team prevailed 6-3 over Birmingham-Southern on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Demorest.

The Lady Lions were able to take two out of three doubles matches and won four of the six singles lines on their way to victory.

In a hard-fought match, it was DAKOTA WILKES' dominant performance at No. 6 singles (6-0, 6-1) that clinched the match for Piedmont at 5-3 as the sun was setting at the Burgen Tennis Courts.

The match started on the right note for the Lady Lions as the No. 3 doubles team of MELISSA GISH and MAGGIE MOODY dominated with an 8-1 victory and put the first point on the board.

However, the Panthers fought back as both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles came down to a tiebreaker at 7-all. Piedmont was victorious at No. 2, as ABBEY GRACE VENHAM and RACHEL MARSH swept the breaker 7-0 to give the Lady Lions the early 2-0 lead. BSC did claw back and win the breaker at No. 1 to avoid the doubles sweep and halt the Piedmont momentum heading into singles.

With No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles going on court first, reigning USA South Player of the Year IMANI VINCENT immediately swung the match back in favor of Piedmont with a clinical 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles.

Once again, the Panthers fought back with a win at No. 1 before Gish battled back from losing the first set to win the second and third and put the Lady Lions one win away from clinching the victory.

Although BSC was able to win in straight sets at No. 4, Wilkes cruised at No. 6 and earned the clincher before MARION SLOYAN closed out the festivities with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 5.

Up next, the Lady Lions will host Methodist next Sunday, Feb. 20.

TURNING POINT:
- After the Panthers earned their first point by winning a breaker at No. 1 doubles, Vincent and Gish each took key singles lines to swing momentum back in favor of Piedmont.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- MELISSA GISH was the lone Lady Lion to win in both doubles and singles.

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