NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 5, Pfeiffer 2
Records: Piedmont, 3-1; Pfeiffer, 0-1

MISENHEIMER, N.C. - The Piedmont men's tennis team continued its strong start to the 2024 season with a 5-2 win at Pfeiffer on Friday afternoon in Misenheimer, North Carolina.

After dropping the double point, the Lions dominated singles action, winning five of the six lines with senior Silas Sandles earning the clinch at No. 5 singles by blanking his opponent in the third set.


 

Road win ?

Check out the clinching point as Silas cruised in the 3rd set ???? pic.twitter.com/unKRd0tZOR

— Piedmont Men's Tennis (@PiedmontMTennis) February 17, 2024

Playing the match with Division I rules, the Falcons were able to take the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to lead 1-0. Piedmont did win at No. 2 doubles as Sandles and Simon Johnstone prevailed 6-3.

The match flipped completely in singles action, with the Lions taking five of the six matches to win 5-2.

Reigning CCS Rookie of the Week Mark Backeberg kept his perfect singles record intact with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles to even the match at 1-all. Backeberg has now picked up wins at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 through his first four career singles matches in the green and gold. 

Just 10 minutes later, fellow newcomer Rohan Kavali gave the Lions a 2-1 lead, winning 6-2, 7-5 in his first career collegiate dual match.

Sophomore Yannick Wassmer Navarro helped the Lions extend their lead to 3-1 by cruising in the second set after grinding out a first-set to win in a tiebreaker 7-6(1), 6-2.

The Falcons showed signs of life with a win at No. 2 singles. However, the momentum was short-lived, as Sandles battled back from dropping a second-set tiebreaker to blank his opponent, 6-0, in the third set to clinch the match for the Lions at 4-2.

Connor Phelps then put an exclamation mark on the match by winning a three-setter (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) at No. 4 singles.

Up next, the Lions will conclude their weekend of action in North Carolina, taking on Virginia Wesleyan at 10 a.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Sandles flipped the momentum with a dominating third set to clinch for Piedmont with a win at No. 5 singles.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Sandles won at No. 2 doubles with Johnstone and won the clinching singles match for a 2-0 day.

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 X: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook.