Piedmont women’s tennis clinched gold once again this past weekend at the Collegiate Conference of the South conference tournament in Chattanooga, TN. For the third time in a row, the Lions are conference champions.
“I think that everyone just kind of expected us to win, but the hardest thing is when you’re expected to win,” said head coach Trey Martin. “Going into the match, knowing that you’re expected to win is a lot tougher than being the underdog. I think that what these girls did with the pressure they were given is just an outstanding achievement.”
Piedmont women’s tennis were voted first in the CCS Preseason Coaches’ poll and went undefeated in the conference regular season, 7-0. Overall, the Lions finished with a 24-4 season record.
In the two previous seasons, the Lions had not lost a conference matchup and had only lost two lines total. This season, they swept every conference opponent they played.
“We keep losing people and people keep stepping up. We just had so much competition throughout the year amongst our own team, and there were a lot of people that really stepped up for the spots,” said Martin.
Individually, six players were named to the CCS All-Conference team. Martin repeated as Coach of the Year, and senior Abbey Grace Venham repeated as CCS Player of the Year.
Venham played in the first line of singles and the first line doubles, primarily with junior All-Conference member Bri Laidman. Venham’s singles’ record was 8-3, and doubles’ record was 12-2.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out,” said Venham. “I think that the team that I was fortunate enough to be a part of is probably one of the greatest teams that Piedmont women’s tennis will ever see.”
In the conference tournament championship, the Lions swept the Covenant College Scots in doubles within an hour. Sophomore Jordan Ballard won the fourth match in singles, and Venham clinched the championship in the first line of singles.
Piedmont women’s tennis had many standout performers this season. Graduate student Dakota Wilkes finished the season undefeated in singles, going 16-0, and broke the program record for most singles victories in a career.
Doubles-specialist Bri Laidman was a consistent player in the first line of doubles for the second-consecutive season, earning the CCS Doubles Team of the Week honor three times with Venham.
Senior Marion Sloyan finished her season 13-3 in singles, and went 15-2 in doubles with multiple partners. Sloyan earned one CCS Player of the Week honor and a third-consecutive All-Conference first-team placement.
Junior Alyssa McSpadden became the quickest player in program history to have 100 total career wins. She did this with a 14-2 singles record and a 10-3 doubles record, primarily with Wilkes.
Piedmont women’s tennis will say goodbye to eight players, including four graduating seniors. Senior Dannie Evans, junior Mia Vasher, senior Lexie Washburn, junior Pauline Reutter, senior Brooke Patton, Venham, Wilkes and Sloyan were honored on the team’s senior day against Belhaven University.
“We are an amazing program, have been an amazing program, and will continue to be an amazing program,” said Venham. “I expect nothing less from the girls next year to continue the trend and get things done just the same as we did this year, without the senior class.”
Piedmont women’s tennis await a bid into the NCAA Tournament, with the announcement scheduled for May 6. Keep up with Piedmont women’s tennis and all Piedmont University athletics at piedmontlions.com.
