NEED TO KNOW:
Match 1 Score: Piedmont 7, Cornell College 0
Match 2 Score: Piedmont 6, Transylvania 1
Record: Piedmont, 4-3

ORLANDO, Fla. - Piedmont men's tennis began its Orlando Spring Break Trip on a high note, winning twice in dominant fashion on Sunday morning and afternoon against Cornell College and Transylvania.

In the morning against Cornell College, the Lions delivered the clean sweep, while they only lost one line in the afternoon, taking down the Pioneers 6-1.

Match 1: Piedmont 7, Cornell College 0

The Lions and Rams battled for the first time, but the Lions owned the morning in Orlando, racing out to a fast start and never looking back in the 7-0 sweep.

Doubles action saw Piedmont deliver a pair of 6-1 wins at the No. 3 and No. 2 spots in the lineup to cinch the 1-0 lead.

The duo of Rohan Kavali and Mark Backeberg cruised at No. 3 doubles just before the No. 2 team of Caleb McElveen and Horacio Rodriguez won by the same score at No. 2. Although the Rams rallied to win in a tiebreak at No. 1, the damage was done and Piedmont led going into singles.

Piedmont quickly regained any momentum it may have lost early in singles, winning the first set in all six matches, as Charles Parnell emerged victorious in a first set tiebreak at No. 3.

Kavali put the first point on the board for Piedmont, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4. Then, it was McElveen's turn, winning 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 6 spot. 

That set up the race for the clinch, which was won by the sophomore Rodriguez at No. 5 with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Even with the match in hand, the top of the singles lineup proved up to the task. Backeberg (6-1, 7-5) rolled in the first set at No. 1 and eked out a hard-fought second set to clinch his match in straight sets. Leyton Dunn (6-4, 6-3) won a pair of closely contested sets to win at No. 2.

Finally, Parnell closed out the match with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 triumph at No. 3.

Match 2: Piedmont 6, Transylvania 1

Playing back-to-back matches, the Lions were up to the task in another decisive victory, this time over Transylvania.

The Lions took the doubles point, sweeping all three matches for good measure this time. Backeberg and Kavali continued their dominant day, not dropping a game at No. 3. McElveen and Rodriguez once again clinched the doubles point for Piedmont, winning 6-2 at No. 2.

Then, with the point clinched, the No. 1 team of Dunn and Parnell came out on top with a 6-4 win to send the match into singles.

For the second straight match, the bottom of the Piedmont singles lineup did the early damage when the match was up for grabs.

Ths time, it was Rodriguez who clinched first, dropping just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 5. McElveen was second to complete his win for the second straight match, prevailing 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot.

Kavali ended up with the clinching victory, rolling to a 6-3, 6-4 win for his fourth overall win on the day and ensuring the Lions moved to 4-3 on the season.

Although the outcome was decided, the Pioneers battled the Lions tough at the top of the lineup. Parnell and Backeberg delivered a pair of hard-fought victories, with both emerging victorious in third set match tiebreaks.

Up next, Piedmont will have Monday off before looking to continue its win streak with a Tuesday morning match at 8 a.m. against Wabash.


TURNING POINT:
- The Lions won the doubles point in both matches and then quickly held the momentum with dominant singles play as well.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Kavali and Backeberg lost just one total game across two matches at No. 3 doubles.

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