NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 8, LaGrange 1
Records: Piedmont, 16-5 (5-1 USA South); LaGrange, 4-4, 3-1 USA South)
DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont men's tennis team closed out its regular season in style with an 8-1 victory over LaGrange on Senior Day Wednesday afternoon.
The win was the 16th of the season for the Lions, a new program record in head coach Matt Williams' first season.
After the match, seniors
CHRIS BALE,
PATRICK DEMPSEY and
HOUSTON MEDLOCK were honored for their contributions to the program.
Once the match started, Piedmont controlled play from start-to-finish, taking two of three doubles lines and sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.
Seniors Bale and Dempsey continued their outstanding season together with an 8-0 triumph at No. 3 to put the first point of the match on the board for the Lions. Then, after the Panthers prevailed 8-5 at No. 2 doubles, the Lions retook the lead as the senior Medlock paired with freshman
ALBERTO NUNEZ for an 8-3 victory at No. 1.
Leading 2-1 going into singles and with 1, 2 and 3 going on court first, Piedmont took care of business, as
MIKE PORCELLI (6-0, 6-1),
BRYCE VANORDER (6-0, 6-1) and Nunez (6-2, 6-0) clinched the match at 5-1 for the Lions.
Nunez's win improved him to 5-1 in conference play for the season.
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With the match in hand, the seniors took the stage and all three rolled in straight sets.Â
Bale improved to 12-2 in singles this season with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 while Dempsey reached 12 singles wins for the second straight season with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 5.
Finally, Medlock's 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6 meant he has a win for the Lions at all three spots in the doubles lineup and all six spots in the singles lineup over his four seasons.
The win marked the second this season for the Lions over the Panthers as they also secured a 7-2 nonconference win on the road.
With the regular season concluded, the Lions have secured the No. 2 seed in the West Division and will await their opponent for the upcoming USA South Conference Tournament, scheduled to begin Thursday, April 28 in Rome, Georgia.
TURNING POINT:
- Leading 2-1 heading into singles, the trio of Porcelli, VanOrder and Nunez won quickly in succession to secure the clinch.
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont's 16 wins breaks the previous record of 15, set in 2005.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
-Â 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.
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