COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Montreat men's tennis team traveled to Columbia, S.C. on Saturday to play a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matches against the Point University Skyhawks and the Columbia College Koalas. In both contests, the Cavaliers had little issue with their opponents, improving to 4-1 (4-1 AAC) on the season behind a 7-0 win over Point and a 7-0 win against the host Koalas.
 
In the first of two AAC matchups, the Cavs made quick work of Point. Against a Skyhawk side with only five players, Montreat quickly swept both doubles matches to start with a 1-0 edge. Luigi Moretti and Anouar Braham needed the minimum six games to clinch their matchup at No. 1, 6-0, while Elisey Kalashnikov and Hugo Rodriguez paired up to seize a 6-4 win at No. 2.
 
Like doubles play, Montreat made quick work of the Skyhawks during singles action as well. Kalashnikov won all 12 games played at No. 3 en route to a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of his opponent. Braham proved nearly as efficient on the No. 2 court, dropping just a single game during his 6-0, 6-1 triumph. Rodriguez, Moretti and Jovan Slijepcevic followed suit, earning 2-set sweeps on their respective courts to finish out the Cavaliers' 7-0 conference victory over Point.
 
The Cavs notched a shutout over the host Koalas as well to the tune of a 7-0 AAC win. The dominant showing against Columbia started with three doubles triumphs to take the matchup's initial team point. Braham and Rodriguez, as well as Daniel Sanchez de Pedro and Slijepcevic, won via 6-0 sweeps at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while Moretti and Kalashnikov teamed up on the No. 1 court for a 7-5 win.
 
Kalashnikov, Jose Tamala and Sanchez de Pedro helped seal the team triumph in singles action by tallying identical 6-0, 6-1 sweeps at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. Jim Warren nearly did the same playing at No. 6, taking down his opponent with one additional game played via 6-1 sets. Meanwhile, Moretti and Braham won their matches after a pair of Koalas retired due to injury.
 
"We played well today against Point and Columbia," said coach Nathan Fruh. "We still have a good bit of work to do, and we have some adjustments that we need to make, but we are taking it one day at a time. I am especially proud of Jim Warren for winning his first official collegiate match in straight sets today."
 
The Montreat men's tennis team returns home on Tuesday for an afternoon conference clash against the 24^th-ranked Reinhardt University Eagles. Doubles play is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.
 
#18 Montreat College 7, Point University 0
Doubles:
1. Luigi Moretti/Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Martin Brena/Erick Manuel Cruz (PU) 6-0
2. Elisey Kalashnikov/Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) def. Bryant Morales/Louis Van Camp (PU) 6-4
3. Point forfeit
Singles:
1. Luigi Moretti (MONT) def. Louis Van Camp (PU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Erick Manuel Cruz (PU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Martin Brena (PU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) def. Bryant Morales (PU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) def. Khalen Wimes (PU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Point forfeit

#18 Montreat College 7, Columbia College 0
Doubles:
1. Luigi Moretti/Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Waldo Bosch/Tiaan Jacobs (CC) 7-5
2. Anouar Braham/Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) def. Owen Brumfield/Conner Dupree (CC) 6-0
3. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro/Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) def. Zaire Wardlaw/Ethan Poungthana (CC) 6-0
Singles:
1. Luigi Moretti (MONT) def. Waldo Bosch (CC) 7-5, 3-4 (ret.)
2. Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Tiaan Jacobs (CC) 2-0 (ret.)
3. Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Owen Brumfield (CC) 6-0, 6-1
4. Jose Tomala (MONT) def. Conner Dupree (CC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro (MONT) def. Ethan Poungthana (CC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Jim Warren (MONT) def. Zaire Wardlaw (CC) 6-1, 6-1