MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's tennis team played its home and Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener Wednesday afternoon when it welcomed the Johnson University Royals to town. Despite dropping the doubles point, the Cavaliers dominated singles play to the tune of a 5-2 team triumph. With its first win under head coach Marcos Salazar, Montreat improved to 1-3 (1-0 AAC) on the young season.
 
Johnson (2-8, 0-4 AAC) began the match with the upper hand thanks to the doubles point. The Royals won 6-2 and 6-4 on the first and third courts, respectively. Playing at No. 2, Youssef Idboufous and Daniel Garcia Estrabot teamed up for a 7-5 win.
 
The most competitive singles match on Wednesday came on the No. 1 court. Danel Diez dropped a tight three-set contest; however, that proved to be the only team point Johnson recorded in singles action.
 
From the second court through the sixth court, the Cavs did nothing but register two-set sweeps. At No. 2, Garcia Estrabot walked away with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Ibai Lopez followed suit, utilizing a 6-4, 6-2 triumph at No. 3 to tally another point for the hosts. Idboufous won in similar fashion on the fourth court, 6-3, 6-2.
 
Commanding performances at No. 5 and No. 6 not only gave Montreat the win, but they also gave the home side a little extra wiggle room. Jorge Cebria cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory, while Bruno-Casimir Gehlhaar rolled past his opponent, 6-3, 6-0.
 
Montreat continues to face NAIA competition on Friday with a pair of matches down in Georgia. The Cavaliers start with a 10 a.m. showdown at (RV) SCAD Atlanta before traveling to Lawrenceville, Ga. for a battle against No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett College.