NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, Tuskegee 1
Records: Piedmont, 1-0; Tuskegee, 0-1

TUSKEGEE, Ala. - The Piedmont men's tennis team was victorious in its season opener on Sunday afternoon, winning 6-1 at Tuskegee.

The Lions won two of three doubles matches to jump in front 1-0 and carried the momentum into singles action, taking five of the six lines in straight sets to cruise to victory.

Although the afternoon was off to an inauspicious start for Piedmont with a loss at No. 2 doubles, the No. 1 doubles team of ROMAN WEBB and MIKE PORCELLI immediately shifted momentum back with a 6-2 win at No. 1 before the No. 3 team of captain COOPER KEWORK and newcomer RYAN RAUGH won 6-3 to give the Lions the first point of the match.

WIth the No. 1, 2 and 3 singles matches going out first, sophomore JACKSON TRAYLOR gave the Lions a 2-0 advantage with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 before PATRICK DEMPSEY fought through a tough match to win 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1, putting the Lions one win away from clinching.

After MIKE PORCELLI fell in back-to-back tiebreakers to put the Golden Tigers on the board, it was Raugh's first collegiate dual match win that was the clincher at No. 4 for Piedmont.

With the match in hand, Kework (6-1, 7-6 (0)) and Webb (6-0, 6-0) rolled to victories at No. 5 and No. 6 to close out the festivities.

Up next, the Lions will host Birmingham-Southern in their home opener next Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- After falling at No. 2 doubles, the Lions prevailed at No. 1 and No. 3 to grab momentum with an early 1-0 lead.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- COOPER KEWORK, RYAN RAUGH and ROMAN WEBB were each perfect on the day with a doubles win and singles win to their credit.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- The win marked the first for new head coach Matt Williams at Piedmont.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.