CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Lee University men's tennis team opened Gulf South Conference (GSC) play with a 7-0 win over Shorter University Tuesday afternoon at the DeVos Tennis center. The Flames improved to 4-0 overall, while Shorter dropped to 0-2 overall and in the GSC.

Drew Johnston and Wihan Van Der Merwe struck first with a 6-2 win over Connor Gunnell and Caleb Harper at No. 3 doubles. Nico Ramirez and Francisco Faria secured the doubles point with a 6-0 blanking of Strahinja Radanovic and Jan Kos. The No. 2 doubles match was left unfinished with Mike and Quinn Groenendijk leading Yike Liu and Elijah Hagan 5-1.

Ramirez began singles competition with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Radanovic at No. 1 singles. Faria took down Kos 6-2, 6-3 to extend the Lee advantage to 3-0. Jordi Dasi was pushed to three sets before he was able to clinch the team win. Dasi and Liu swapped 6-4 scores in the first two sets with Dasi winning the first set. Dasi completed the win at the third position with a 6-0 margin in the third set.

Quinn Groenendijk did not drop a game in a straight set win over Gunnell. Van Der Merwe took down Hagan 6-1 and 6-3 to win at No. 4 singles. Johnston completed the Lee shutout with a 6-0, 6-0 showing against Harper.

The Flames remain at home to face No. 8 West Florida on Saturday. The GSC contest is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the DeVos Tennis Center.