BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Georgia Southern defeated Gardner-Webb on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 4-3 with the last match needed to decide the winner. With the loss, GWU's longest win streak in school history comes to a close after nine consecutive wins.
 
"We had a lot of excitement going into today and we took the doubles point, but unfortunately we came up a little short overall," said Head Coach Mike Griffith. "Georgia Southern played better in close situations and deserved the win today."
 
The Eagles earned the first doubles match of the afternoon winning 6-4 on court #4. The Runnin' Bulldogs went on to rally and get the doubles point by getting decisions in tiebreakers on each of the remaining courts. The one at #3 ended next with Cathal Butler and Sebastian Harris winning 7-6 (5) with the opening point being sealed in the topflight by Eduardo Dias and Chrisjan Van Wyk 7-6 (7).
 
Dias opened singles play getting the first decision as he won 6-1, 6-3 in the #1 position. Georgia Southern responded with straight set wins on courts #3 and #5 to tie the overall match at 2-2.
 
Kim Niethammer delivered with a 6-2, 6-2 win from court #6 to give GWU the advantage back with the score at 3-2. GSU went on to win the remaining two matches with the decision on court #2 being the decisive match where the visitors clinched the win.
 
Following the loss, Gardner-Webb will play their first road match since February 13 on Wednesday, March 1 at Furman with a first serve at 3:00 p.m. The 'Dogs will then start their conference slate against a pair of fierce opponents at Presbyterian (3/3) and vs Campbell (3/6).