NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Piedmont 9, Brevard 0
Match 2 Score: Piedmont 6, Truett McConnell 1
Record: Piedmont, 5-2
CLEVELAND, Ga. - The Piedmont men's tennis team won a pair of matches on Thursday afternoon and evening, sweeping Brevard 9-0 in the home opener before rolling to a 6-1 win at Truett McConnell to close out the evening.
Piedmont did not drop a single set against the Tornados and lost just one line for the whole day as Truett McConnell salvaged a point after the outcome had been decided.
Match 1: Piedmont 9, Brevard 0
The Lions opened up the home scheduled with a clinical 9-0 victory against Brevard in the afternoon, cruising to win all three doubles lines quickly and then taking all six singles lines in straight sets for the shutout.
Piedmont quickly picked off two doubles wins in quick succession as
Silas Sandles and
Charles Parnell won 8-4 at No. 1 and
Mike Porcelli and
Bryce VanOrder cruised to an 8-1 win at No. 2. Then, a few minutes later, the No. 3 doubles team of
Kody Dills and
Leo Galarza delivered their first dual doubles wins of the spring 8-4.
Needing just two singles wins to clinch the match, they came in short order, as Sandles dominated for a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 while Dills (6-2, 6-0) finished off his opponent with a dominant second set to earn the clinch, the first of his career as a Lion.
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Porcelli (6-0, 6-0) did not drop a game on his way to a victory at No. 3 singles while Galarza (6-3, 6-0) mirrored Dills in his match, cruising from the middle of the first set on, to make it 7-0 Lions.
VanOrder rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles to put the Lions within one of the shutout, which came from Parnell, who picked up his first career dual singles win with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 2.
Match 2: Piedmont 6, Truett McConnell 1
With the home-opening win secured, the Lions headed to Cleveland, Georgia for a road match under the lights.
Playing by Division II/NAIA rules, the Lions took the doubles point after a pair of 6-0 wins, from
Simon Johnstone and
Rohan Kavali at No. 3, and then
Yannick Wassmer Navarro and
Connor Phelps cruised at No. 1. With the point on the board, rookies Parnell and
Mark Backeberg won 6-2 at No. 2.
Once again, the Lions jumped on the Bears from the beginning of singles play, quickly winning the three matches needed for the clinch. Reigning CCS Rookie of the Week Kavali won first (6-1, 6-2) at No. 4 while the previous week's CCS Rookie of the Week Backeberg won next (6-0, 6-2) at No. 1 to get Piedmont within a point of clinching the match.
The clinch came from Parnell, who was the only Lion to win a singles match in both legs of the doubleheader as he dominated his second for a 6-3, 6-0 win to make it 4-0 Piedmont.
Johnstone (6-2, 6-4) won at No. 4 while freshman
Brent Sherman (7-5, 6-2) took his match at No. 5 for his first collegiate dual singles win.Â
The Bears were able to secure the final match, winning in a second-set tiebreaker to make it a 6-1 final.
Up next, the Lions will host former USA South foe Methodist this Sunday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Making his collegiate dual match debut, Parnell picked up a pair of wins, winning the final match at No. 2 in a 9-0 sweep of Brevard before securing the clinch at No. 3 against Truett McConnell.
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 X: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook.
