CHARLOTTE – #2 Radford defeated #3 Gardner-Webb on a 4-0 decision to move on to the 2021 Big South Men's Tennis Conference Championship, ending the season for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
 
"Loved the fight today and we have nothing to be ashamed of," said Head Coach Mike Griffith.
 
Gardner-Webb was unable to secure the doubles point after losing two of the three matches. Radford defeated Breno Plentz and Stefano Puga on court #2 6-3. This was followed by Victor Putter and Chrisjan Van Wyk prevailing 6-3 in the topflight, making the point come down to the last doubles match. Radford's #3 pair topped Connor Enslin and John Spring 6-3 for the point.
 
Radford got early leads in many of the singles matches aiding in the team getting the victory. The first match to conclude was the #6 position with Aditya Baleskar defeating Spring 6-0, 6-0. The Highlanders followed that score with a 6-1, 6-3 win against Putter in the #1 flight. The match that clinched the victory for Radford came at the #5 court after Andres Silva beat Enslin 6-3, 6-3.
 
In the matches yet to be finished, Gardner-Webb's players were hanging around trying to secure their victories. In the #2 flight, Van Wyk lost the first set 0-6 but answered with a 6-1 win in the second. The third was unfinished, but the score stood at 2-2 at its conclusion. At the #3 position, Plentz's score stood at 6-2, 3-6, 1-0. Lastly, Sebastian Harris was close to securing the first point of the day in the #4 flight. When the match was ended, he was leading 6-4, 6-5.
 
 "We are a young team, and we will be stronger and better next year," said Griffith. "We expect to win, and we will prepare for next year starting tomorrow."
 
The conference tournament will conclude tomorrow with #2 Radford playing against #4 Presbyterian at 3:00 p.m. to determine the Big South Conference Champion.