ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNCG men's tennis team dropped its season opener at UNC Asheville, 4-2, Saturday at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown.  

UNCG falls to 0-1 and UNC Asheville remains undefeated at 4-0 to start the 2015 campaign.

In a new doubles format this season, teams play to six points instead of a normal eight points from last season. Thomas Panoulas and Reid Dillon defeated Daniel Mack (Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) and Warren Bryan (Greensboro, N.C./The Early College at Guilford/Longwood), 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

The Bulldogs clinched the point with a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles as Brett Landau and Alex Croker took down Randy Phillips (Snellville, Ga./Brookwood) and freshman Connor Thompson (Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents).

Josh Swindler and Daniel Kripak were tied with Cameron Smith (Jamestown, N.C./Ragsdale) and William Albright (Greensboro, N.C./Grimsley) 5-5 at No. 3 doubles when the point was won.

In singles, the Spartans battled back as Phillips defeated Panoulas in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to even the match at 1-1. UNC Asheville regained the lead at 2-1 when Croker took down Smith, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.

The Bulldogs made it 3-1 after Kripak won in the third set over Mack, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. UNCG cut the overall score to 3-2 after Thompson won in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) at No. 5 singles against Landau.

Swindler would clinch the victory for UNC Asheville with a tough three set win against Bryan, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). Swindler was able to win the close third set tiebreaker 7-5 to win the match.

Freshman Victor Marum (Oslo, Norway/Norwegian Elite) lost his first set against Will Goldberg, 7-6 (9-7) and the matche went unfinished.

The Blue and Gold will return home for their home opener against Campbell Saturday, Feb. 7 at noon at the UNCG Tennis Courts.

Follow all the action about the 2014-15 UNCG men's tennis team on www.UNCGSpartans.com or on twitter @UNCGMTennis. 

-UNCG-