CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.— In the quarterfinal round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament on Thursday in Tennessee, the fourth-seeded Montreat men's tennis team defeated the fifth-seeded Milligan University Buffaloes by a 4-3 score, advancing to the semifinal round of the bracket in the process. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 7-5 on the season.
 
A key to avenging a 4-3 regular-season loss to the Buffaloes lied in obtaining the doubles point. Turning the tide on Milligan, Luigi Moretti and Anouar Braham captured a 6-1 win at No. 1 before Hugo Rodriguez and Elisey Kalashnikov clinched the 1-0 advantage for the Cavs with a 7-5 triumph at No. 3.
 
In singles play, all six matchups were straight-sets results as both squads took three of the remaining points on the table. Though Montreat dropped the fourth, fifth and sixth lines, the Cavaliers earned their victory in the top three slots. Kalashnikov defeated his opposition 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3, while Braham toppled his counterpart in the second position, 6-4, 6-3. Moretti, the Cavs' all-conference performer, concluded the effort with a 7-5, 6-3 result in the No. 1 competition.
 
Montreat continues its tournament run with a matchup versus No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.
 
Montreat College 4, Milligan University 3
Doubles:
1. Luigi Moretti/Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Nathan Smiley/Marcos Moreno (MU) 6-1
2. Derian Janeke/Ryan Thomas (MU) vs. Daniel Sanchez de Pedro/Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) 5-4, unfinished
3. Hugo Rodriguez/Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Juan Camilo Burgos/Justin Rigsby (MU) 7-5
Singles:
1. Luigi Moretti (MONT) def. Krishan Taneja (MU) 7-5, 6-3
2. Anouar Braham (MONT) def. Carter Rigsby (MU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Elisey Kalashnikov (MONT) def. Gabrijel Kajic (MU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ryan Thomas (MU) def. Jovan Slijepcevic (MONT) 6-2, 6-2
5. Marcos Moreno (MU) def. Hugo Rodriguez (MONT) 6-1, 6-2
6. Nathan Smiley (MU) def. Jose Tomala (MONT) 6-0, 6-3