CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Gardner-Webb drop season opener at Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 4-3. The teams split the six singles matches, but the Mocs won the opening point in doubles to claim the home victory.
 
Head Coach Mike Griffith said, "They were better than us in doubles and that was the difference. With our team, we must be better in that."
 
In doubles, the Mocs got wins on courts 2 and 3 to win the doubles point. The match in the topflight went unfinished with the score at 5-5 featuring the duo of Victor Putter and Numa Lemieux-Monette.
 
In singles, Chattanooga got a flurry of straight set decisions on courts 3, 5, and then 4 to seal the team's win. Kim Neithammar won in his debut on court #6, 6-2, 6-2. Eduardo Dias won in the #1 position with a final score of 7-6(5), 6-2. The final match was Alex Lepine winning after a first set loss on court #2. His final score was 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
 
"We have a tough match tomorrow at Kennesaw who was ranked last year, and we all are looking forward to tomorrow," said Griffith.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs face Kennesaw State on Sunday, January 29 with a first serve at 11:00 a.m. as they conclude their opening weekend of road matches.