DEMOREST, Ga. – The Rhodes men's tennis team defeated Piedmont College on Friday, 7-2.

The Lynx traveled to Atlanta this weekend to face off against Piedmont College and Emory University. The Lynx took on the Piedmont Lions to begin the trip on Friday.  After questionable weather and rain delays, the Lynx were able to commence the match, leading 2-1 after doubles.
 
Graham Sowden and Albert Vacheron came out to a slow start, trailing 4-1 after the first five games.  However, the team were only down a break and were able to gain momentum on Vacheron's serve.  The duo made their move at 5-2 and were able to break and hold on Sowden's serve, bringing it back on serve 5-4.  Finally the Lynx pair were able to close out the match 8-6 in what proved to be a sensational comeback.
 
Sam Robertson and Luis Ardila keep their record perfect as they closed out their match 8-6 at No. 3 position.  Ardila/Robertson started off well, staying on serve until 3-2.  Ardila was broken on his serve, but the team were able to trade breaks until breaking at 7-4.  Ardila was serving for the match but was unable to close it out, losing the next two games.  The duo was able to close out at 8-6 to win the match. Greyson Brilliant and Eliot Blatt were cruising in their match, up 7-2 when their opponents were able to stage a massive assault, storming back to win the next 5 games.  The pair were forced to a tie breaker at 8-8 but were unable to close out the match, giving the Lions their only point in doubles.
 
In singles, the Lynx came out focused, ready to shut Piedmont down and bag up another win on the road.  Albert Vacheron stormed to a 3-0 lead in his singles match against Brent Jenkins, quickly winning the first set 6-0 and rolling to victory 6-1 in the second.  Eliot Blatt and Daniel Olivier dispatched their opponents with great poise, dropping only three games between the two of them.  Luis Ardila had a great win over Bryan Barnett winning a tight match at No. 6. Ardila had been leading the match the entire time but Barnett would not be denied so easily, assailing Ardila with big forehands and serves.  Ardila kept his poise and was able to capture the break in each set, including match point when Ardila ripped a huge forehand down the line off of Barnett's approach shot to win the match.
 
Greyson Brilliant struggled to pull out his match against Trey Martin at the No. 2 position.  After winning the first sent handedly, Brilliant ran into trouble late in the second set while trying to serve out the match.  Serving up a timely double fault at 5-4, Martin was able to break even out the match.  Seizing his opportunity, Martin was able to close out the set 7-5.  Brilliant regained his poise and was able to step up his game with massive offense early in the third; serving and volleying, finishing with big forehands and making quick work of Martin 6-2 in the final set.  
 
Graham Sowden had a battle at No. 3, going up an early break against Mason Riza 3-0.  Riza was able to gain his confidence and claw back into the match, forcing the first set to a tie breaker but Sowden gaining an early lead again and struck first to capture the set.  Sowden was determined to close out the match but Riza kept fighting and was able to gain the second set.  Finally, with the match already declared a victory for Rhodes, the pair played a 10 point breaker to decide the match.  Sowden struck first, getting the mini-break at 2-1, but a timely backhand error set the match even and Riza stayed solid as he pulled out the second point and only singles win for the Lions. 
 
The Lynx will play Emory, the No. 5 ranked team in the nation tomorrow at 3:00 pm; the following week will begin their conference campaign against Centre and Sewanee.

 
Rhodes College 7, Piedmont College 2
Singles competition
1. Elliot Blatt (RHODES) def. Nathan Metzger (PCM) 6-0, 6-1
2. Greyson Brilliant (RHODES) def. Trey Martin (PCM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
3. Albert Vacheron (RHODES) def. Brent Jenkins (PCM) 6-0, 6-1
4. Mason Riza (PCM) def. Graham Sowden (RHODES) 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 10-5
5. Daniel Olivier (RHODES) def. Robbie Werner (PCM) 6-0, 6-2
6. Luis Ardila (RHODES) def. Bryan Barnett (PCM) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Matthew Metzger/Nathan Metzger (PCM) def. Elliot Blatt/Greyson Brilliant (RHODES) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Albert Vacheron/Graham Sowden (RHODES) def. Mason Riza/Bryan Barnett (PCM) 8-6
3. Luis Ardila/Sam Robertson (RHODES) def. Robbie Werner/Trey Martin (PCM) 8-6