WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise women's tennis team begins Mountain East Conference play this weekend with a pair of matches as the Cavaliers (1-1) travel to Institute, West Virginia, Saturday for a 10 a.m. match against West Virginia Sate.
 
Following Saturday's match the Cavs will return to Wise to face the University of Charleston Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
UVa-Wise is coming off of a tough home outing with nationally ranked Tusculum College this past Monday in which the Cavs were unable to win a set. However, UVa-Wise battled hard against the Pioneers and got strong play from sophomore Daria Tyshchenko and freshman Mackenzie Lawson in singles and senior Junetta Nuckels, Lawson, junior Bailey Christoforatos and Tyshchenko in doubles.
 
The Cavs opened their season with a strong 9-0 road sweep of Berea College (Ky.) this past Sunday. UVa-Wise clinched the match in singles action without dropping a set.
 
Both the Yellow Jackets and the Golden Eagles are beginning their 2015-16 season against the Cavs.
 
West Virginia Sate is the defending MEC champion and was picked to finish first in the conference by a vote of the league's head coaches. The University of Charleston was the runner-up in last year's MEC tournament and was picked to finish second in the conference preseason poll.
 
UVa-Wise dropped an 8-1 decision to West Virginia State at home last season and fell 9-0 to the University of Charleston on the road.
 
After this weekend's matches the Cavs will step out of conference to take on Milligan College next Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m. The men's team will also face Milligan Wednesday in their first match in nine days.
 
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