BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb defeated North Georgia 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon as they improved to 5-2 on the season with their fifth consecutive win. The Nighthawks entered the match as the #11 ranked team in the NCAA D2 ranks. This was the Runnin' Bulldogs' second win over a ranked opponent from D2 this year (WIngate - 2/9 W 5-2).
 
"We lost a tough doubles point, but in singles we jumped on them early and had leads on most every court which allowed us to turn their momentum into our favor," said Head Coach Mike Griffith.
 
The day started with GWU getting a 6-1 win in the topflight for doubles as Eduardo Dias and Chrisjan Van Wyk took down the #7 duo in the Southeast region in D2.  The Nighthawks went on to win on court #2 by a 6-4 score and followed that with a 7-6 (4) decision on court #3 to get the point.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped to a couple of early leads in singles matches with Alex Lepine knocked off a ranked opponent in flight #2 by a 6-1, 6-1 score. Numa Lemieux-Monette had a 6-1, 6-2 decision on court #4. Kim Neithammar got the victory 6-1, 6-4 from court #6 to put the 'Dogs a point away from the win.
 
Sebastian Harris clinched the victory for GWU on his 6-2, 7-6 (6) score at #5.
 
The match was called when a team claimed the win leaving courts #1 and #3 unfinished. Dias was a point away from getting the victory with his match at 4-6, 6-1, 5-3 against the #2 ranked player in the region and #5 in the country. Victor Putter was also nearing a decision at flight #3 at 6-4, 6-6.
 
Gardner-Webb will now move on to a doubleheader that will be contested against Belmont-Abbey at home tomorrow with the first match to begin at 1:30 p.m.