LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Piedmont women’s tennis team completed an epic comeback to win its season opener 5-4 at Transylvania on Saturday afternoon in Kentucky.
The Lions fell behind 4-0 in the match but won the five remaining singles matches, with Dakota Wilkes winning the clincher in a third-set match tiebreaker.
The clinching point from Dakota that completed the epic comeback win over Transylvania 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/NivlSu22uj
— Piedmont Tennis (@PiedmontUTennis) February 18, 2024
The match began on the wrong end for Piedmont, with the Pioneers taking all three doubles matches by an 8-4 margin.
Then, to begin singles play, Transylvania rolled to a quick 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles to come within a point of clinching the match. However, they were never able to get over the top, as the Lions were undeterred, winning four singles matches in two sets with Wilkes battling back after dropping her opening set.
Alyssa McSpadden began the comeback charge, winning 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles before Bri Laidman took her match, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5.
Marion Sloyan kept the momentum on Piedmont’s side as she rolled in the first set 6-1, before winning a second set breaker 7-5 to make it 4-3.
Then, it was Dannie Evans’ turn, as the senior evened the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6.
Finally, the graduate student Wilkes came through in the clutch, winning a grueling second set to stay alive in the match before outlasting her opponent in the breaker for the clinching win.
Up next, the Lions will conclude their opening weekend, taking on Ohio Northern tomorrow at 10 a.m.
TURNING POINT:
– Piedmont was able to overturn a 4-0 deficit and win 5-4 thanks to taking 5-of-6 singles lines on the night.
