Box Score Boiling Springs, N.C. -- The Gardner-Webb women's tennis team opened up Big South Conference play with a 6-1 loss to visiting Asheville Thursday afternoon at the Webb Tennis Center.

Gardner-Webb now stands at 2-6 overall (0-1 Big South). Asheville which won its eighth-straight match, improves to 9-2 overall (1-0 Big South).

The Bulldogs took the doubles point with two wins in doubles play, before picking up five wins in singles play to secure the match.

Starting the afternoon in the double's competition, graduate senior Courtney Fyvie (Durbam, South Africa) and freshman Aliz'ee Poulin (Beauceville, Quebec, Canada) started the afternoon on Court No.3 with a 0-6 loss to Asheville's Avery Sager and Louise Booker.

The Runnin' Bulldogs No.2 doubles team of senior Katie Watts (Haslet, Texas) and freshman Milica Prokic (Belgrade, Serbia) fell 2-6 to the Bulldog's Angelina Joy Hug and Rosie Dickson.

Gardner-Webb's No.1 tandem of junior Emilia Roslund (Lund, Sweden) and sophomore Emma Shasteen (Floda, Sweeden) did not finish their doubles match on Court No.1.

Asheville led 1-0 heading into the singles competition where the Runnin' Bulldogs gave it a valiant effort.

On Court No.5 Watts lost (0-6, 0-6) to Dickson to extend the Bulldogs lead to 2-0.

Roslund battled Linge Steenkamp on Court No.1, but Steenkamp prevailed 2-6, 5-7.

Fyvie then lost (2-6, 4-6) a hard-fought match on Court No.4 to Hog to clinch the eight-straight match win for the visitors.

Rounding out the rest of the action, Poulin (6(5)-7, 4-6) lost to Alexis Nyborg on Court No.3 and Prokic was beaten (5-7, 6-4, 3-10) on Court. No.6.

Shasteen was a bright spot once again for the Runnin' Bulldogs as she took care of business in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 against Booker on Court No.2.

"Asheville is an excellent, well-coached team" said Gardner-Webb women's tennis coach Jim Corn. "I was proud of our effort in the singles competition. We had some good opportunities, but they played better than us on the big points today."

Up Next — Gardner-Webb will be in action again tomorrow (Friday, (3/8) when the Runnin' Bulldogs visit Belmont Abbey at the Reidy Tennis Center for a 3PM match.