BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The men's tennis team picked up their first victory of the 2021 Spring Season in the home opener on Wednesday afternoon against Queens. The freshmen on the team went undefeated in singles and doubles matches they played in.
 
"Queens did well to take out our undefeated 1 doubles team today, however, our 2 and 3 stepped it up for the doubles point," said Head Coach Mike Griffith. "Doubles set the stage, as it usually does, and we carried the momentum to our first win of the year. I am proud of our team and how hard we worked."
 
The doubles matches saw Queens claim #1 position with a 6-1, with a victory of the Runnin' Bulldogs' Breno Plentz and Alex Griffiths. Sebastian Harris and Chrisjan Van Wyk won the #2 match with a 6-4 decision to have the point come down to the #3 position. Victor Putter and Cathal Butler, his regular-season debut, won 6-3 to clinch the doubles point.
 
Gardner-Webb clinched the match quickly by winning the first four singles matches to clinch their first victory of the season.
 
In John Spring's regular-season debut, he controlled the match to win in the #6 position over Queens' Arthur Bazil 6-0, 6-2. Shortly after, Van Wyk's match in the #3 flight concluded with a 6-2, 6-1 decision. Putter clinched the match in straight sets with a 6-3, 6-3 decision from the #2 position.
 
Connor Enslin prevailed in his singles match at the #5 position, defeating Kasper Rolfsen 7-4(4), 6-3.
 
The day concluded with Queens' Yoan Roussinov defeating harris 7-5, 6-3 at the #4 flight, and Edoardo Bottino defeating Plentz in close 7-5, 7-5 sets.
 
"It was a super nice weather day at Gardner-Webb and we are looking forward to Longwood on Sunday," said Griffith.
 
Next up for the Runnin' Bulldogs is the conference-opening match on Sunday, February 14th at 12:30 p.m. against Longwood University at the Webb Tennis Courts.