BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- The Gardner-Webb men's tennis team picked up their first Conference victory of the season with the 6-1 defeat of Longwood University this afternoon at the Webb Tennis Complex.

After having almost a week off from match play the Runnin' Bulldogs came out hot against the Lancers. Senior Brendan Dempsey and junior Jonathan Walker made up the GWU No. 3 doubles team that defeated Longwood's Ilchev and Sanker 8-2. Nikita Zverkov and Ernest Alberch quickly followed the result at No. 3 doubles by clinching the doubles point with an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles over Elston/Johnson.

The good play in doubles for Gardner-Webb trickled over into singles play with Zverkov coming on strong to defeat Florian Uffer 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 2 singles position, followed by his doubles mate Alberch winning at No. 3 singles confidently 6-0, 6-2 over Alfonso Castellano.

Freshman Yaroslav Prostakov playing at No. 6 singles was not to be outdone by his upperclassmen teammates also winning in straight sets over his opponent Lachlan Manser 6-2, 7-6. Dempsey was next to finish winning with ease over Rosen Ilchev 6-0, 6-3 in his No. 5 singles match.

GWU's lone singles loss of the day would come at No. 1 singles with Benjamin Kaszas dropping his match 6-2, 6-4 to Dan Elston, but Gardner-Webb responded well to the loss as red-shirt senior Korhan Ates would finish the match off in strong fashion for the Runnin' Bulldogs defeating Steed Johnson 7-6, 6-0.

With the victory this afternoon Gardner-Webb moves to 6-7 on the season with eight matches left on the 2015 season, while the Longwood Lancers move to 0-9 still looking for their first team victory on the year.

Gardner-Webb will return to action this next Friday March 20 at 2:00 p.m. as they welcome Campbell University to Boiling Springs, N.C.  for an important Big South Conference match.