NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Piedmont 9, Berea 0
Match 2 Score: Piedmont 9, Asbury 0
Records: Piedmont, 16-6 (4-0 CCS); Berea, 0-9 (0-5 CCS); Asbury, 13-5

BEREA, Ky. - Piedmont men's tennis continued its strong play of late, not losing a single line all day in 9-0 wins at Berea and against Asbury.

The Lions began the day with a 9-0 sweep at Berea to remain unbeaten in conference play before cruising to another 9-0 shutout against future CCS opponent Asbury.

Match 1: Piedmont 9, Berea 0

The Lions left no doubt early in their second CCS 9-0 sweep of the season. Piedmont was pushed at No. 1 doubles but lost just one combined game at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to jump ahead 3-0 quickly.

The No. 3 doubles team of Jackson Traylor and Brent Sherman won for the first time together, 8-0, before seniors Mike Porcelli and Kody Dills also teamed up for the first time together this season with an 8-1 rout at No. 2. Finally, it was Simon Johnstone and Silas Sandles who provided the clean doubles sweep, prevailing 8-5 at No. 1.

Needing just two singles lines to clinch the match, Piedmont got the job done in straight sets in all six matches, most coming in dominant fashion.

Traylor picked up his second win of the day, rolling 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4 while freshman Rohan Kavali provided the clinch, with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2.

Johnstone (6-0, 6-3) cruised at No. 3 while freshman Charles Parnell improved to 2-0 at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Both of Parnell's wins at No. 1 have come in 9-0 conference wins for the Lions.

Finally, it was JC Foster (6-0, 6-1) at No. 6 and Dills (6-1, 6-2) at No. 5 who brought it home for the Lions to blank Berea to start the day.

Match 2: Piedmont 9, Asbury 0

The Lions jumped on the Eagles early, with a fantastic doubles showing. Sandles delivered his second win at No. 1 doubles on the day, this time with the freshman Mark Backeberg as the duo cruised to an 8-2 win to put the Lions up 1-0. Then, it was Yannick Wassmer Navarro and Connor Phelps, also with an 8-2 win at No. 3 to secure the advantage going into singles. However, the Lions were not finished, as reigning CCS Doubles Team of the Week Mike Porcelli and Parnell eked out an 8-6 win at No. 2 to make it 3-0 Lions.

With No. 1 through No. 4 singles going on the court first, the Lions needed just two matches to clinch their 16th win of the season. It was the freshman Parnell who delivered first, winning 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 to cap an excellent day. Then, for the second Saturday in a row, Bryce VanOrder came through with the clinch in a three-set battle, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 3.

Although the match was in hand, the Lions did not let up, with Backeberg coming back from dropping his opening set to roar back with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 4.

Wassmer Navarro did the same in a marathon match at No. 1, prevailing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. 

After the first wave of singles, the sweep was still in play with Kavali at No. 5 and Phelps at No. 6 still in battles themselves. Phelps won a long two-setter at No. 6 first (6-4, 7-5). 

Then, to close out the marathon day, it was the freshman Kavali who delivered, winning a long first-set breaker before dropping the second set. However, the Hyderabad, India native rallied back in the third-set match tiebreaker to deliver a 7-6 (9), 3-6, 1-0 (8) victory to finish off an outstanding day for the Lions.

Up next, Piedmont will look to remain unbeaten in the CCS, as they will battle Maryville at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Parnell picked up singles wins at No. 1 and No. 2, while taking a win at No. 2 doubles in the Asbury match.
- Kavali began his day with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles against Berea before closing out the festivities by winning a grueling third-set match breaker against Asbury.

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont's 16 overall wins ties a program record, set in 2022.

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