Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Piedmont University Athletics

Home Of The Piedmont University Lions
Chris Bale and Patrick Dempsey
Piedmont Athletic Communications
3
Berry BERRY (3-5)
6
Winner Piedmont PUM (8-2)
Berry BERRY
(3-5)
3
Final
6
Piedmont PUM
(8-2)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Joseph Garwood: Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Lions Outlast Berry 6-3 in Epic Battle

NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, Berry 3
Records: Piedmont, 8-2; Berry, 3-5

DEMOREST, Ga. - In an epic match that lasted over four hours, the Piedmont men's tennis team prevailed 6-3 over Berry on a cloudy Tuesday afternoon in Demorest.

The Lions overcame deficits in multiple matches, turning the tide of the match at No. 3 doubles, and then again multiple times in singles, as all six lines went to a third set.

In the end, it was the senior HOUSTON MEDLOCK who delivered the clincher, outlasting Connor Murphy at No. 5 singles after winning a second-set tiebreaker and then taking the third set, 6-3, to give the Lions their seventh win in a row.


 

The Vikings jumped out to a hot start in doubles, rolling to an 8-2 win at No. 2. However, the No. 1 doubles team of Medlock and freshman ALBERTO NUNEZ pulled away late to win 8-5 at No. 1 and even the score. The momentum carried over to No. 3, as CHRIS BALE and PATRICK DEMPSEY rallied from down 5-2 to force a tiebreaker, eventually taking it 7-2 to give Piedmont a 2-1 lead and momentum heading into singles.


 

All six singles matches were hard-fought and went into a third set. Needing four matches in singles to clinch, Berry took back momentum by winning four of the six first sets.

Once again, the Lions were unflappable, as Nunez (No. 1), BRYCE VANORDER (No. 2), MIKE PORCELLI (No. 3) and Medlock (No. 5) all took the second set to force their matches to a third.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the Vikings also showed fight, forcing the matches at No. 4 and No. 6 into deciding sets as well.

Berry put up the first two singles points with wins at No. 6 (3-6, 6-2, 6-4) and No. 1 (6-2, 3-6, 6-1) to lead 3-2.

From there, it was all Lions. VanOrder evened the score at 3-all with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph at No. 2 before Porcelli also turned the tide after dropping his first set, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.



 



 

Leading 4-3, the Lions still needed one of the two matches from Medlock at No. 5 or Bale at No. 4. They got both.

Medlock dropped a hard-fought first set in a breaker before trailing 5-2 in the second. The senior from Adairsville then fought off multiple match points and easily took the second-set breaker before completely controlling the third, leading 5-0 at one point and clinching the third set and the match at 6-3.

With the match in hand, Bale took advantage of the momentum, mirroring Medlock by rallying from down big in the third set before fighting off multiple match points himself to win the third set, 7-5.

Up next, the Lions will remain at home, hosting Division II Southern Wesleyan this Thursday, March 17 at 3 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Bale and Dempsey battled back from down multiple breaks to win at No. 3 doubles in a breaker, putting the Lions ahead 2-1 going into singles.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Medlock earned the clincher and also teamed with Nunez to win an important point at No. 1 doubles.
- Bale fought off match point in both doubles and singles, winning both. He remains undefeated in singles this season.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- The win marked the first for the Lions over Berry since 2016.

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.

 
Print Friendly Version