NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 9, Belhaven 0
Records: Piedmont, 18-6 (6-0 CCS); Belhaven, 7-12 (4-2 CCS)
DEMOREST, Ga. - In the regular season finale, the Piedmont men's tennis team clinched the CCS Regular Season Championship in a 9-0 win over Belhaven Saturday.
The title marks the first under Head Coach
Matt Williams and adds to the already record-breaking win total this season as Piedmont posts 18 victories.
Piedmont got off to a strong start taking all three doubles lines with 8-2 decisions at No. 2 & No. 3.
Mike Porcelli and
Charles Parnell were first to finish at No. 2 followed by
Kody Dills and
Bryce VanOrder making quick work at three.
Mark Backeburg and
Silas Sandles fell behind at No. 1 5-2 but were able to shut down the five-time CCS Doubles Team of the Week in Belhaven's Abraham Gonzalez and Justin Humphrey. Backeburg and Sandles charged back to take six straight and seal an 8-5 win for the sweep in doubles.
Parnell posted the first singles victory at No. 1, 6-2, 6-0 followed by a simultaneous finish at No. 2 & No. 3 by seniors
Bryce VanOrder and
Mike Porcelli, respectively. VanOrder posted a 6-2, 6-1 win while Porcelli ended 6-0, 6-2 giving the seniors the clinch in the match and of the CCS Regular Season Championship.
To close out the sweep,
Silas Sandles won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4,
Jackson Traylor won 6-1, 7-6(4) and
Kody Dills delivered another hard-fought win, taking his match 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (4).
Up next, the Lions will head to the CCS Tournament Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee and begin play in the semifinals on Friday, April 26.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Despite trailing 5-2 at No. 1 doubles,
Mark Backeberg and
Silas Sandles rallied to claim an 8-5 win to seal the sweep in doubles action.
--All five seniors who were honored prior to the match posted at least one win.
NEWS AND NOTES:
--Piedmont's seniors were honored prior to the match as five seniors and
Leo Galarza were recognized for their contributions to the team.
--The regular season title is the first since a West Division Regular Season title in the USA South in 2019.
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.
