MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Piedmont men’s tennis team concluded its trip to North Carolina with a 4-3 loss to Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.
In a hard-fought match, the Marlins were able to prevail in a third set at No. 5 singles to clinch the victory.
Playing Division I rules for the second consecutive day, Piedmont clinched the doubles point on Bryce VanOrder and Rohan Kavali’s 6-4 win at No. 3. It was the duo’s first dual match as doubles partners. Yannick Wassmer Navarro and Connor Phelps prevailed, 6-2, at No. 2 first, before Va. Wesleyan equalized at No. 1, which left it up to VanOrder and Kavali to capitalize.
Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to carry the momentum over. Piedmont did jump ahead 2-0 as Wassmer Navarro won quickly (6-3, 6-1) at No. 1 before the Marlins put a point on the board with a win at No. 2.
Va. Wesleyan was able to pick up wins at No. 6 and No. 3 in straight sets to vault into the lead at 3-2. Trying to fight for the comeback, Friday’s hero Silas Sandles battled back to win a second-set tiebreaker after losing the first set 6-0. However, the Marlins’ Carlos Rullan Zarraga clinched the match with a 6-4 win in the third set.
After the clinch, Phelps was ahead in his third set when his opponent retired due to injury.
Up next, the Lions will play their home opener next Thursday, Feb. 22 against Brevard at 2 p.m.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Wassmer Navarro and Phelps were each 2-0 on the day, as the duo partnered up with a win at No. 2 doubles before each won their singles match.
