STATESBORO - Georgia Southern men's tennis handed visiting Gardner-Webb its first loss of the season with a 4-0 victory on Sunday at the Wallis Tennis Center.
The Eagles moved to 3-6 on the season with the victory, while Gardner-Webb fell to 8-1. It was the seventh straight win for Georgia Southern over the Runnin' Bulldogs, dating back to 2016.
The doubles point was a tight affair as it came down to No. 2 doubles to decide things. Judson Blair and Pierre Mouesca picked up a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles, while Gardner-Webb won by a 6-3 score at No. 3 doubles. But the Eagles earned the point as Pol del Castillo and Dimitris Paliouras earned a 7-6 (2) win over Numa Lemieux-Monette and Jurle Terblanche.
Georgia Southern took five of six first sets in singles play. Pol del Castillo collected the first singles match with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lemieux-Monette at No. 3 singles, while Matthew Mitchell claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Terblanche at No. 6 singles. Laurent Julia Calac then clinched the victory for the Eagles with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) win over Johan Van Wijk at No. 5 singles.
The Tigers notched first set wins in five of the six singles matches, then clinched the victory with straight-set wins at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 6 singles. The other three matches all went to third sets. Laurent Julia Calac earned a win at No. 5 singles as he defeated Stewart Aronson by a 4-6, 7-5, (10-8) score.
"Gardner-Webb and Coach Griffith always do a really good job getting their guys ready," Georgia Southern head men's tennis coach Andrew Goodwin said. "They're off to one of their best starts in program history. I was pleased with how resilient the guys were today, especially after a tough Friday night where we felt like we left some stuff out on the table. Really happy with Laurent getting in there and getting his first clinching of the year. He's had a good weekend. Listen, we're getting better. We've got to keep getting tougher and more resilient, but we'll get there."
Georgia Southern returns to action on Friday, hosting Radford in a 1 p.m. match at the Wallis Tennis Center.
RESULTS
Singles
1. Dimitris Paliouras (GS) led Eduardo Dias (GW) 3-6, 6-3, 3-0, unfinished
2. Pierre Mouesca (GS) led Alex Lepine (GW) 7-6 (6), 4-3, unfinished
3. Pol del Castillo (GS) def. Numa Lemieux-Monette (GW) 6-2, 6-4
4. Kim Niethammer (GW) led Judson Blair (GS) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
5. Laurent Julia Calac (GS) def. Johan Van Wijk (GW) 6-2, 7-6 (3)
6. Matthew Mitchell (GS) def. Jurie Terblanche (GW) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Judson Blair/Pierre Mouesca (GS) def. Eduardo Dias/Chrisjan Van Wyk (GW) 6-3
2. Pol del Castillo/Dimitris Paliouras (GS) def. Numa Lemieux-Monette/Jurie Terblanche (GW) 7-6 (2)
3. Cathal Butler/Alex Lepine (GW) def. Laurent Julia Calac/Matthew Mitchell (GS) 6-3
