Spartanburg, S.C.  – The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team garnered its first win of 2015 season defeating USC Upstate, 6-1, on Thursday at the USC Upstate Tennis Complex in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Runnin' Bulldogs moved to 1-1 on the season with the win, only dropping one singles match and one doubles match on their way to the impressive 6-1 win over the Spartans. The win this afternoon was the first time GWU defeated the Spartans in their last six meetings.

GWU head coach Mike Griffith had this to say about today's matches. "USC Upstate is a very good team that made us work hard today. We fought well and definitely have improved since our first match and I look forward to our trip down to Georgia this weekend."

Junior Benjamin Kaszas playing at the No.1 singles position earned every bit of his win playing a gritty 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 come from behind three sets win over Upstate's Viktor Selander. Fellow Runnin' Bulldog junior Nikita Zverkov also picked up a good win today at the No. 2 singles slot defeating the Spartan's Ramon Simonetti in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

GWU's freshman standout Yaroslav Prostakov collected his first collegiate win for the Runnin' Bulldogs also winning his No. 3 singles match 7-6, 6-3 over USC Upstate's Rajanvir Dharni.  Senior Ernest Alberch earned his No. 4 singles match defeating Jaime Yates of USC Upstate 7-6, 6-7, 10-8 in a third set tiebreak.

Red-shirt senior Korhan Ates picked up one of only two GWU losses today, dropping his match 2-6, 4-6 to a very good player in Upstate's John Giakoumakis. Rounding out the GWU lineup was senior Brendan Dempsey who played well winning his match in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 against USC Upstate's Matt Benton.

In doubles play the Runnin' Bulldogs won at the No.1 spot with the team of Zverkov/Prostakov teaming up to defeat Simonetti/Yates 6-4. The senior team of Alberch/Dempsey also won their No. 3 doubles match using their combined experience to take down Dharni/Carvalho of Upstate 6-3. The only other loss on the day for Gardner-Webb came in the No. 2 doubles match where Ates/Kazsas dropped their match 2-6 to Selander/Giakoumakis.

The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team will return to the courts this weekend when they head on the road to Georgia. The Runnin' Bulldogs will face off against Mercer University and Georgia State on Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25th respectively.