NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 5, Pfeiffer 4
Records: Piedmont, 1-0; Pfeiffer, 1-2

MISENHEIMER, N.C. - In a dramatic start to the season, the Piedmont men's tennis team outlasted Pfeiffer, 5-4, in its season opener on Saturday afternoon.

With the match tied at four apiece and the only match on court at No. 1 singles, freshman YANNICK WASSMER NAVARRO emerged victorious over Benedikt Pfeiffer to lift the Lions to victory.

In his first career dual match as a Lion, the freshman from Spain lost a hard-fought battle in the first set (5-7) before winning a grueling second set (6-4) and rolling to a 6-2 third-set win to give Piedmont the 5-4 victory.

 


The Lions started the day off strong with a 2-1 lead after doubles. The No. 1 team of MIKE PORCELLI and SILAS SANDLES rolled to an 8-3 win before the Falcons quickly evened the score at 1-all with an 8-4 win of their own at No. 2. However, Piedmont was able to take the momentum back as sophomore RYAN RAUGH and freshman CONNOR PHELPS eked out an 8-6 win at No. 3.

Needing just three of the six singles lines to take the match, JACKSON TRAYLOR began with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 4 to give Piedmont a 3-1 lead before Phelps put them one point away from the clinch with a 6-2, 6-2 win of his own at No. 6.

However, the Falcons battled back as the remaining four matches were extremely competitive. Sandles was forced to retire in the third set of his singles match at No. 5 while Pfeiffer won a three-set match at No. 3 and a hard-fought two-setter at No. 2, setting the stage for Wassmer Navarro's big moment to shine in his debut.

Up next, the Lions will return to the courts tomorrow, battling Methodist on the road at 12 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Pfeiffer had flipped the momentum of the match with three straight tough wins before Wassmer Navarro turned the tides in Piedmont's favor in the third set at No. 1.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Freshmen stood out Saturday as Phelps won both his doubles and singles match before Wassmer Navarro took the clincher.

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