ATLANTA— The Montreat men's tennis team spent Friday playing a pair of matches down in the state of Georgia. After dropping a narrow 4-3 decision to (RV) SCAD Atlanta in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play, the Cavaliers suffered a 5-0 defeat to the NAIA's top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College squad. With the losses, Montreat now stands at 1-5 (1-1 AAC).
 
SCAD Atlanta (2-3, 2-0 AAC) claimed a critical doubles point during the Cavs' initial matchup of the day. A pair of 6-4 triumphs on the first and third courts helped the Bees seal the deal. Jorge Cebria and Daniel Garcia Estrabot saw their clash halted with the score level at four.
 
The home side won the top three singles matches to clinch the team victory. Garcia Estrabot put up the strongest fight, losing ultimately in three sets. Montreat kept things interesting, however, stealing wins on the final three courts to lose the team dual match by just one. Youssef Idboufous and Bruno-Casimir Gehlhaar were victorious in three frames, while Cebria won via a 6-2, 7-5 sweep.
 
Driving up the road from Atlanta to Lawrenceville, Ga., the Cavaliers faced an even stiffer test in the No. 1-ranked Bears. Georgia Gwinnett (11-0) made quick work of its foes, seizing the doubles point with 6-0 and 6-1 wins. The hosts then surrendered a lone game or less in three of the finished singles matches to snag the W. Garcia Estrabot retired on the No. 1 court as well, allowing GGC to cap off a 5-0 victory.
 
Montreat jumps back into play against NCAA competition on Sunday with a home match versus Converse University. Doubles action is slated to begin at 2 p.m. at the Charles D. Owen High School tennis courts in Black Mountain, N.C.