NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 7, Truett McConnell 0
Records: Piedmont, 3-0; Truett McConnell, 0-1

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont women's tennis opened up its 2025 spring season in style on Saturday afternoon, blanking Truett McConnell 7-0 in Demorest.

With the match slightly delayed due to an early morning rain shower, the Lions left no doubt once the weather cleared, taking the doubles point before sweeping all six singles, including a few gritty third-set match tiebreak wins.

With the switch of DIII rules to best-of-three taking a single doubles point, the Lions were able to jump out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a hard-fought win at No. 1 from the duo of Alyssa McSpadden and Bri Laidman.

Before Laidman and McSpadden's win, freshman Sarah Sanabia and senior Dannie Evans teamed up for a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles to open the match before the Bears evened things up with a 6-2 win of their own at No. 2. That left McSpadden and Laidman's match at No. 1 as the decider and the senior duo came through in the clutch.

Singles action saw the bottom and the top of the Piedmont lineup deliver a quick clinch. Evans won first, cruising 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6 before McSpadden did not drop a game to win at No. 1 and make it 3-0 Lions, just one match away from the clinch.

That win came in short order as Jordan Ballard cruised in the first set and battled to win a hard-fought second (6-0, 7-5) to ensure the Piedmont victory.

From there, Piedmont continued to battle, even with the outcome decided. Freshman Caroline Morrison emerged victorious, 7-5, 6-1 at No. 4 before newcomer Lauryn Leslie (2-6, 6-3, 10-6) battled back at No. 3 after dropping the first set to take the second and then win a third-set match breaker 10-6.

Laidman also was not denied after dropping the first set, winning 5-7, 6-2, 10-4 at No. 2.

Up next, the Lions will take to the road, battling Meredith next Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

TURNING POINT:
- With the doubles point coming down to the match at No. 1, McSpadden and Laidman eked out a 6-4 win to give Piedmont the 1-0 lead heading into singles..

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Dannie Evans picked up a win at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles 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.