MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's tennis team opened its 2023 season and Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate with a matchup against the Johnson University-Tennessee Royals at home Monday afternoon. Thanks to a sweep in doubles action and six singles wins, the Cavaliers started their campaign with a 7-0 victory and a 1-0 (1-0 AAC) record.
 
The Cavs quickly dispatched of the Royals in doubles action, dropping just three games over the three matchups. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro and Jose Tomala notched a 6-0 win at No. 3 before Jovan Slijepcevic and Elisey Kalashnikov clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 triumph at No. 2. In the top spot, Luigi Moretti and Anouar Braham collected a convincing 6-2 triumph as the Cavs took a 1-0 advantage into singles play.
 
Three Cavaliers defeated their counterparts in singles action without conceding a single game as Braham tallied a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 prior to Kalashnikov recording the same scoreline at No. 3. Tomala tilted the match in the home side's favor for good with his 6-1, 6-1 victory over his opponent in the fifth slot before Slijepcevic added a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 4 to put Montreat up 5-0.
 
Moretti secured a 7-5, 6-1 win in the top singles slot before Hugo Rodriguez made his collegiate debut by shutting down his counterpart in the No. 6 matchup (6-0, 6-0) to give interim head coach Nathan Fruh his first coaching victory.
 
"We had a good start to the season today," noted Fruh. "Now the guys have a good idea of what they need to work on and improve before our match next week. We will be back on the court tomorrow to get back to work."
 
Men's tennis now plays Bluefield University next Tuesday, Feb. 28, looking for its second conference win in as many matches. First serve in Montreat, N.C. is slated for 2:00 p.m.
 
#18 Montreat College 7, Johnson University-Tennessee 0
Doubles:
1. Luigi Moretti/Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Ignacio Gamarra/Eli Vento (JU) 6-2
2. Elisey Kalashnikov/Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) def. Jacob Keeling/Noah Brown (JU) 6-1
3. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro/Jose Tomala (MONT) def. Gerett Benjamin/Cam Jones (JU) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles:
1. Luigi Moretti (MONT) def. Ignacio Gamarra (JU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Noah Brown (JU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Eli Vento (JU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) def. Jacob Keeling (JU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Jose Tomala (MONT) def. Kaden Buchanan (JU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) def. Gerett Benjamin (JU) 6-0, 6-0
Order of finish: 2,3,5,4,1,6