CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb dropped their 2021 season opener at Charlotte on a 6-1 decision Saturday afternoon.
 
"Overall, it was a good day; I was so happy to see our energy and how we played after a long layoff since our last competition," said Head Coach Mike Griffith.
 
Gardner-Webb started the day with Breno Plentz and Alex Griffiths winning the #3 doubles match with a 6-1 score against Charlotte's duo of Menezes and Dobrnjac.
 
In the #1 doubles match, the Runnin' Bulldogs pair of Sebastian Harris and Chrisjan Van Wyk lost 4-6. Charlotte won the doubles point in the #2 position when Connor Enslin and Victor Putter fell 2-6.
 
The first singles match to conclude was at #1 where Plentz lost in straight sets, 0-6, 1-6. Shortly after the #1 match, Van Wyk lost his career singles debut in the #4 position by scores of 0-6, 2-6. Charlotte clinched the victory in the #3 position. Putter was defeated by Wallin with a score of 3-6, 1-6 in the match.
 
Shortly after the #1 match, Enslin lost in the #2 match 0-6, 1-6. Griffiths had a close match at #5 that ended 2-6, 6-7, putting Charlotte up 6-0.
 
Harris secured the lone point of the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the last match of the day after dropping the first set with scores of 1-6, 6-2, 7-6.
 
"Charlotte has a very good team and is going to do well this year, but so are we," said Griffith. "The guys and I are pumped for Furman tomorrow."
 
Gardner-Webb falls to 0-1 on the season after the loss.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be in action tomorrow at Furman University at 2:00 p.m. seeking their first victory of the season.