BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb women's tennis (5-4, 2-1 Big South) fell short, 4-3, to defending Big South champion Winthrop (4-7, 3-1 Big South) in league action Wednesday afternoon at the Webb Tennis Complex.
 
"I'm extremely proud of our effort this afternoon," stated Gardner-Webb head coach Jim Corn. "We left it all on the courts and gave a really good Winthrop team all they could handle."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an early advantage, claiming the doubles point by taking all three matches.  The pairing of Teodora Ristic and Mayumi Saguchi defeated Angela Georgieva and Samantha Nanere, 6-3, at the No. 3 position, and the team of Miljana Ristic and Daniela Naupari earned a 6-2 win over Tayla Van Eck and Alexandria Ferreria da Silvia at the No. 1 spot to seal the point for GWU.  The team of Valentin Limuage and Manon Delsol defeated Alisa Soloveva and Rafaela Santos, 6-3, at the No. 2 position to give Gardner-Webb the doubles sweep.
 
GWU earned another point at the onset of singles action with Naupari defeating Van Eck in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, at court two.  Winthrop answered wins at No. 4 and No. 1 to tie the match at 2-2.  Teodora Ristic dropped a 6-3, 6-2 match to Ferreira da Silva at court four, and at the No. 1 spot, Miljana dropped a hard-fought three-set match to Soloveva, ranked #76 by the ITA, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.
 
Delsol battled back from an early deficit to defeat Georgieva at court six, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, to give GWU its third point of the afternoon, but the Eagles could claim the last two matches.  At the No. 5 position, Limauge fell to Nanere, 7-5, 7-5, and at the No. 3 spot, Saguchi dropped a tough three setter to Santos, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-2.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm, hosting Charleston Southern at the Webb Tennis Complex.