Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Piedmont University Athletics

Home Of The Piedmont University Lions
Alberto Nunez
2
Piedmont PUM (15-6)
5
Winner Covenant CCM (18-6)
Piedmont PUM
(15-6)
2
Final
5
Covenant CCM
(18-6)
Winner

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

Lions Fall 5-2 in CCS Tournament Final to Covenant

NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Covenant 5, Piedmont 2
Records: Covenat, 18-6; Piedmont, 15-6

ROME, Ga. - The Piedmont men's tennis team saw its CCS Tournament run end with a 5-2 loss to Covenant in the final on Saturday afternoon in Rome.

The Lions battled all afternoon, but the Scots took 2-of-3 doubles lines and then took the three necessary matches in singles to win the match at 5-2.

Piedmont roared out to a strong start to doubles play, jumping ahead in all three matches. The doubles dominance continued for the No. 3 team of RYAN RAUGH and CONNOR PHELPS, who rolled to an 8-1 victory to put the Lions ahead 1-0 in the match.


 


However, the Scots battled back from down in both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take those matches. Ben Onufrock and Austin Dreslinski escaped with an 8-6 win at No. 1 to even the match at 1-1. No. 2 doubles was an epic battle that came down to a tiebreaker that the Scots emerged victorious from to lead 2-1 and take momentum into singles.

Covenant was able to carry that momentum and took the first set on five of the six courts. However, the Lions were able to battle back in many of the second sets to stay in the match.

The Scots were able to pick up wins at No. 1 and No. 2 as Onufrock and Dreslinski clinched within minutes of each other to make it 4-1.

Piedmont then put a point on the board as ALBERTO NUNEZ prevailed, 7-5, 6-0, winning a grueling first set before rolling in the second.


 

At No. 4, 5 and 6 singles, the Lions battled back in all three second sets after losing the firsts. 

However, Covenant's Ethan Gibson provided the clincher as he won, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 at No. 4 to give the Scots the title.

At the time of the clinch, JACKSON TRAYLOR was in the midst of a second-set tiebreaker to stay alive while CONNOR PHELPS was tied at 2-2 early in the third set at No. 6.

The loss ends Piedmont's season at 15-6.

TURNING POINT:
- Covenant took the tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to swing the match in their favor at 2-1 and never trailed the rest of the way.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Raugh and Phelps each earned All-Tournament Team honors after going 2-0 in doubles together for the tournament. The duo ends their season with a 13-2 record.

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