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Matt Hurley running
3
Methodist University MUMTN (2-3)
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Winner Piedmont University PUM (6-2)
Methodist University MUMTN
(2-3)
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Final
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Piedmont University PUM
(6-2)
Winner

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Methodist Drops Close Match to Piedmont

DEMOREST, Ga.  Methodist University men's tennis lost a tough 6-3 battle to Piedmont University on Sunday, February 25. The loss drops the Monarchs to 2-3 on the season.
 
"We continue to improve as a team. Building a winning culture takes time. It is a mindset and an attitude. We took some significant steps forward today in that regard. But we aren't there yet," said Head Coach Scott Handback. "Once again, we had opportunities to win the match, but we have areas that we are coming up short. We are beginning to fight the right battles though and that is important. This team is poised to make a lot of noise in the second half of the season."
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist, 6-3
Records: Methodist 2-3, Piedmont 6-2
Location: Burgen Tennis Courts; Demorest, Georgia

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Monarchs were in control halfway through doubles as the No. 1 duo of Matthew Hurley (So.) and Harry Crokam (Fr.) were up 7-4 and the No. 3 team of Drew Guarnieri (Jr.) and Wills Belser (So.) were leading 6-3. The Lions picked up their level and challenged the visiting team.
  • The No. 2 doubles team Declan Rayner (Fr.) and Christian Tihanovich (Fr.) lost 8-3 and finished first. Despite the charge, Hurley and Crokam held on to win 8-6. Guarnieri and Belser ended up 7-7 and went to a tiebreaker, but fell 7-3 in the tiebreaker giving Piedmont a 2-1 lead after doubles play.
  • In singles, first off the court was Tihanovich who lost 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6 singles. Guarnieri played an inspired second set, but came up short losing 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 2 singles spot. Hurley dominated the first set 6-2, but struggled with an injury in the second set. Not one to give up so easily, Hurley held on to win the second set 7-6, finishing off the second set tiebreaker 7-5 to secure the second point of the match for Methodist.
  • With the match at 4-2 to Piedmont, the Monarchs were on the verge of elimination. Belser won the first set at No. 3 singles, but Rayner and Crokam had lost the first set at No. 4 and No. 5 singles respectively. Crokam won the second set 6-2 and third set 7-5 to earn the Monarchs their third point of the match.
  • Facing two match points that would have won the team match for the Lions, Rayner saved both points in dramatic fashion and went on to win the second set in a tiebreaker to force a third set. Both Belser and Rayner fell short in their third sets to secure the win for Piedmont.
UP NEXT
Methodist is off until Friday, March 8, when the team travels to Queens University of Charlotte for an 11 AM match.
    
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