MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's tennis team wrapped up the month of February on Tuesday with its second Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match of the young season. Playing at home against the Bluefield University Rams, the Cavaliers sprinted past the visitors and claimed a 6-1 conference win, improving to 2-0 (2-0 AAC) in the process.
 
In doubles action, Montreat coasted to a pair of wins to claim the contest's initial point. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro and Jose Tomala teamed up for a clean sweep at No. 3, while the tandem of Hugo Rodriguez and Elisey Kalashnikov needed just one extra game at No. 2. With the 6-0 and 6-1 triumphs, the Cavs entered singles action with a 1-0 edge.
 
Sanchez de Pedro continued to build Montreat's momentum with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 triumph at No. 5. Anouar Braham followed suit on the No. 2 court by also capitalizing on his perfect first set to sweep his foe, 6-0, 6-3. Braham's win put the hosts up 3-0 and moved Montreat within a point of victory.
 
Needing one more win to clinch the match, the Cavs turned to the No. 1 court. After a slight delay, Luigi Moretti wasted no time dispatching his foe. The Salerno, Italy native gave Montreat a 4-0 lead and the team victory with a 2-set sweep of 6-1, 6-2. Moments later, Rodriguez expanded that edge to 5-0 after notching a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at No. 6.
 
Bluefield (1-4, 1-2 AAC) won a thrilling match on the No. 4 court thanks to a 13-11 tiebreaker, but Kalashnikov closed out Tuesday's action with his win at No. 3. The sophomore from Stary Oskol, Russia utilized a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) victory to hand the Cavaliers their sixth and final point.
 
"We still have a long way to go in the season, but today was a good test against Bluefield," said coach Nathan Fruh. "We are gradually building confidence and getting more comfortable out there with each match."
 
The Montreat men's tennis team is back in action tomorrow afternoon for an AAC matchup at Milligan University. Doubles play is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Milligan, Tenn.
 
No. 18 Montreat College 6, Bluefield University 1
Doubles:
1. Valentin Suarez/Alessandro Perez (BU) def. Luigi Moretti/Anouar Braham (MONT) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Hugo Rodriguez/Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Juan Agudelo/Delli Babu (BU) 6-1
3. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro/Jose Tomala (MONT) def. Llorenc Porquer-Guzman/Solomon Mitchell (BU) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2,1
Singles:
1. Luigi Moretti (MONT) def. Alessandro Perez (BU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Juan Agudelo (BU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Valentin Suarez (BU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Delli Babu (BU) def. Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) 7-5, 0-6, 13-11
5. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro (MONT) def. Llorenc Porquer-Guzman (BU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) def. Solomon Mitchell (BU) 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 5,2,1,6,4,3