NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 6, Truett McConnell 1
Records: Piedmont, 6-6; Truett McConnell, 0-8

CLEVELAND, Ga. - Piedmont men's tennis returned from its Orlando Spring Break trip and traveled to Cleveland, Georgia Wednesday, taking down Truett McConnell 6-1.

In a match that was originally scheduled for February but postponed due to rain, the Lions and Bears met on a cool but pleasant afternoon in Northeast Georgia.

Doubles action was a hard-fought battle, but the Lions prevailed to take a 1-0 lead and set the tone for the match.

The duo of Rohan Kavali and Mark Backeberg continued their strong play together, rolling to a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles. However, the next two matches were anything but easy, but needing just one to clinch the doubles point, the Lions delivered in the clutch.

It was the No. 3 team of Charles Parnell and Horacio Rodriguez who decided the point, winning 7-6 (5) in a dramatic tiebreak as the Bears won 7-5 at No. 1 doubles.

Needing just three singles matches to clinch the victory, the Lions quickly raced to the win, with three quick, dominant wins.

Leyton Dunn provided a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at No. 2 while Rodriguez rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 5. Then, it was a race to the clinch from Kavali and Parnell, with Kavali putting the win on the books with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 3, just before Parnell's 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2.

The remaining two matches each went to third set match tiebreaks. Playing No. 6, Amir Latipov battled back from down a set to win 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (5) for the team's final point.

While the Bears were able to get on the board with a grueling win at No. 1, the damage was done and the Lions picked up their sixth win of the season.

Up next, Piedmont is set to begin conference play this Friday, March 20, taking on Huntingdon on the road at 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Parnell and Rodriguez delivered a hard-fought 7-6 (5) win at No. 3 doubles to clinch the doubles point for Piedmont.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Kavali and Backeberg have now won five consecutive matches as doubles partners.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
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