BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb dominated in a 6-1 victory against Longwood on Thursday to improve to 2-0 in conference play. This win extended the team's home match conference win streak to eight straight.
 
"Today, we wanted to exhibit self-control, but also be intense, and I thought we did that," said Head Coach Mike Griffith. "We did well in doubles, and that set the stage going into the singles."
 
The #2 pair of Stefano Puga and Breno Plentz won in impressive fashion 6-1, setting up Chrisjan Van Wyk and Victor Putter, to clinch the doubles point for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the #1 match. The #1 duo improved to 5-0 on the season with today's 6-3 decision. Closing doubles matches were John Spring and Sebastian Harris as they defeated the Lancers' Andrew Ilett and Gullermo Cagigas 6-4 in the #3 flight.
 
"We knew Longwood would make a stand, and they did win a couple of first sets in the singles, but I was so proud of the way the guys stayed focused," said Griffith.
 
The first singles match to conclude was the #3 flight. Plentz won the matchup 6-2, 6-2 for his first conference singles victory of the season. Spring's match at #6 finished soon after 6-4, 6-1 for another victory on the season for him. Longwood secured their lone point of the day off Guilherme Sergio's narrow win at #2 over Van Wyk 7-6(4), 6-2.
 
Gardner-Webb clinched the match when Putter won in the #1 flight 6-3, 7-5. Harris won in the #5 position 6-2, 6-4 which furthered the team's overall lead. The day ended with Connor Enslin prevailing after a first set fall 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
 
After the match, Griffith said, "It was nice to get another conference win, and now we move on to Saturday. Nice to get back on the road."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will take their undefeated conference record on the road to Clinton, S.C. to face Presbyterian (3-1) on Saturday.