Chapel Hill, N.C. - The Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to overcome an early 1-0 doubles deficit, as Gardner-Webb saw the Tar Heels race out to an early lead in a 6-1 loss at UNC's Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in its season opener.
GWU (1-0) found itself in a 1-0 hole versus the ACC heavyweight Tar Heels, currently ranked as the 18th best team in the country. The Runnin' Bulldogs' doubles tandems at No. 1, 2, and 3 fell by 8-1, 8-3, and 8-1 margins respectively as UNC cruised to the early lead.
Gardner-Webb suffered losses at No. 1, 2, and 3 singles to ranked opponents, including the Tar Heels' #18 Esben Hess-Olesen.
UNC (2-0) garnered first set wins at all six singles positions.
Sophomore Brendan Dempsey (Dublin, Ireland) grabbed a win at No. 6 singles for the Runnin' Bulldogs, battling back from an early deficit to knock off Maik Ulrich by a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action at the Army Tournament in West Point, N.Y. The three-day tournament hosted by the Black Knights begins Friday, January 25 and concludes Sunday, January 27.
Results: #18 UNC 6, GWU 1
Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 1, 2) -
1. #44 Hess-Olesen and Vick (UNC) def. Ernest Alberch and Matthew Parker (GWU) 8-1
2. Clark and Parker (UNC) def. Adam Knutsson-Sundblad and Nikita Zverkov (GWU) 8-3
3. DePaolo and Steiro (UNC) def. Benjamin Kaszás and Joao Poli (GWU) 8-1
Singles (Order of finish: 2, 3, 1, 5, 4, 6)
1. #18 Hess-Olesen (UNC) def. Knutsson-Sundblad (GWU) 6-3, 6-0
2. #58 Vick (UNC) def. Roman Piftor (GWU) 6-1, 6-0
3. #102 Parker (UNC) def. Kaszás (GWU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Steiro (UNC) def. Alberch (GWU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Meyer (UNC) def. Parker (GWU) 6-4, 6-0
6. Brendan Dempsey (GWU) def. Ulrich (UNC) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
