NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 7, Salisbury 2
Records: Piedmont, 14-2; Salisbury, 6-2
DEMOREST, Ga. - In a critical non-conference battle, Piedmont women's tennis banked a big win, 7-2, over Salisbury on a chilly and windy Monday afternoon in Demorest.
The Lions were pushed in multiple matches, but emerged victorious for their fifth consecutive victory.
Strong doubles performances set the tone for the day, with Piedmont taking two out of three. The No. 1 doubles team of
Abbey Grace Venham and
Bri Laidman put the first point of the match on the board, winning 8-5 while the No. 3 doubles team of
Marion Sloyan and
Brooklyn Bolch prevailed seconds later, winning 8-4.
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The Sea Gulls responded with a win at No. 2 doubles to avoid the disastrous sweep, but the Lions were undeterred, winning 5-of-6 singles lines to run away with the match.
Sloyan delivered a clinical 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 2 to make ti 3-1 while on the next court over, Wilkes remained unbeaten in dual singles matches this season, banking a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 3.
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With the men's match happening simultaneously, the Lions were only able to have the No. 1 through No. 3 teams take the court initially. However, McSpadden stepped onto the court after Sloyan clinched at No. 2 and delivered her usual steady play, winning a dominant first set before digging deep to close out her second set and clinch the match with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph.
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Venham was also pushed to the limit, but battled and won a grueling match in the third set, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Rounding out the lineup, Salisbury was able to get a hard-fought win at No. 5 while
Dannie Evans concluded the evening by winning a third-set match tiebreaker to make it a 7-2 final. Evans won her match, 1-6, 6-3, 10-7, recovering from a tough first set to prevail and move to 5-1 in dual singles matches this season.
Up next, the Lions will have a well-earned break from competition, as they return to the courts next Friday, March 29 with matches at Pfeiffer (10 a.m.) and at LaGrange (4 p.m.).
TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont's ability to take a 2-1 lead after doubles gave it a lead it never relinquished.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- McSpadden earned the clinch at No. 4 for the second consecutive home match.
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