NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Covenant 5, Piedmont 4
Records: Piedmont 10-4 (2-1 CCS) ; Covenant 13-5 (2-0 CCS)

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - In a battle that came down to the wire, the Piedmont University men's tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision at Covenant Saturday.

For the first time since March 2019, the Lions took two double wins to head into singles play up 2-1. Covenant claimed an early advantage with a win a No. 1 8-3 over Piedmont's JACKSON TRAYLOR and ALBERTO NUNEZ.

The Lions battled back to even the score as RYAN RAUGH and CONNOR PHELPS improved to 9-2 in dual matches this spring with an 8-6 win at No. 3. Simon Johnson and SILAS SANDLES continued their momentum as doubles partners grinding out an 8-7 win (7-3) at No. 3. 

In singles play, the Scots were able to even the match with a win at No. 3 as Ben Luke defeated Nunez 6-3, 6-3. BRYCE VANORDER quickly put the Lions back in front in the match with an impressive 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 2. 

YANNICK WASSMER NAVARRO battled at No. 1 forcing a third set but fell 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. The two teams were knotted at 3-3 before the Scots took a 4-3 advantage with a win at #4 singles as Traylor also went to a third set falling 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. 

SILAS SANDLES battled at No. 6 refusing to surrender saving nine match points on his way to a third set win 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. The Scots outlasted the Lions with a win at No. 5 as CONNOR PHELPS dropped a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 4-6 decision. 

Four of six singles matches went to a third set with Covenant claiming three of the four.

Up next, the Lions will face a quick turnaround with a trip to Sewanee Sunday. 

TURNING POINT:
--It came down to the final line once again as the Lions have now been in six matches decided by a score of 5-4 this season. 

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--SILAS SANDLES saved nine match points en route to a third set win 7-5 to win at No. 6 singles. 

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