NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 4, Berry 3
Records: Piedmont, 8-6; Berry 3-7

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont men's tennis won a 4-3 nail-biter over the Vikings of Berry College, adding a win to their 2-0 win streak since returning from Orlando.

Sophomore Horacio Rodriguez and junior Rohan Kavali won 6-1 in fast fashion at No. 3 doubles, setting up junior duo Charles Parnell and Mark Backeberg to clinch the doubles point 6-4 at No. 2, propelling the Lions to 1-0 going into singles.



 

Hear from the match clincher himself, Rohan Kavali ?? pic.twitter.com/aJwv163Gyd

— Piedmont Men's Tennis (@PiedmontMTennis) March 24, 2026

The Vikings took 4 of the 6 first sets, with Leyton Dunn at No. 1 and Caleb McElveen at No. 6 singles prevailing 6-4 each headed into their second sets.

With the energy of the doubles point still on their side, the Lions persevered taking 5 of the 6 second sets to force 5 tiebreakers across 6 lines. 

Rodriguez used his energy off a win in the second set 6-3 to power through his fourth tiebreak of the season 10-6  at No. 5, pulling the Lions ahead after the Vikings tied it up No. 3.

Soon after at No. 6, McElveen battled to a 6-4, 6-4 straight set win to bring the Lions to a 3-1 lead. At the same time, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 all grasped for the fourth win of the day to clinch the match. Ultimately, it was Kavali at No. 4 to cut the tension and steal the win.



 

The battle is won!

Rohan Kavali gets @PiedmontMTennis across the line in a hard-fought win against Berry ???? pic.twitter.com/XPLa14GKDE

— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 24, 2026

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During Kavali's tiebreak, Berry prevailed at No. 1 and No. 2, tying the match at 3-3 in the final moments of the day. In dramatic fashion, Kavali refused to give up, taking the tiebreaker 14-12 deciding the outcome in favor of the Lions.

Up next, the Lions will resume conference play at home against Belhaven on Friday, March 27 at 2 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Rohan Kavali comes out triumphant in a third-set match tiebreak to win the match for the Lions.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Rohan Kavali doubled up in wins after taking the lead toward securing the doubles point alongside Horacio Rodriguez at No. 3, and later clinched the match in a dramatic tiebreaker at No. 4 singles.
- Caleb McElveen was the sole Lion to win his match in straight sets at No. 6 singles.

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