WISE, Va. – Having not played a match in nine days the UVa-Wise men's tennis team was unable to claim a victory against Milligan College of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Appalachian Athletic Conference.
 
The Cavaliers (0-2) were shutout for the second-straight match to begin their fall non-conference portion of the 2015-16 schedule.  
 
The No. 2 doubles team of senior Oleg Kopychenko and freshman Blake Pientka came the closest to claiming a double victory for the Cavs, falling 8-4 to Milligan's Jackson Lenoir and Fernando Gonzalez.
 
At the top spot sophomores Andrii Rutnytskyi and Viktor Tunnikov gained three games against Colin Bumann and Joseph Lyttle of Milligan in an 8-3 loss. Sophomores Noah Aldridge and Chase Pollard were handed an 8-2 defeat at No. 3 doubles against the Buffaloes' Joshua Crain and Daniel Peacock.
 
Singles play proved to be just as difficult for the Cavs as they came up winless. Aldridge played his opponent the toughest as he took five games off of Milligan's Crain in a 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 4 singles.
 
Rutnytskyi and Tunnikov both lost by identical scores after claiming three games in their singles matches. At the top singles spot Rutnytskyi was handed a 6-2, 6-1 defeat by Bumann of Milligan while Tunnikov fell 6-2, 6-1 to the Buffaloes' Gonzalez at No. 3 singles.
 
The Cavs will have an eight-day break before continuing their four-game homestand to begin the fall non-conference portion of the schedule.
 
UVa-Wise takes on Montreat College in Wise Thursday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m. before welcoming Maryville College to the Jim and Betty Humphreys Tennis Complex Sunday, Sept. 27, for a 2 p.m. match time.
 
Tennis Match Results
Milligan College 9, UVa-Wise 0
 
Singles
1. Colin Bumann (MC) def. Andrii Rutnytskyi (WISE) 6-2, 6-1
2. Jackson Lenoir (MC) def. Oleg Kopychenko (WISE) 6-1, 6-0
3. Fernando Gonzalez (MC) def. Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) 6-2, 6-1
4. Joshua Crain (MC) def. Noah Aldridge (WISE) 6-3, 6-2
5. Daniel Peacock (MC) def. Blake Pientka (WISE) 6-0, 6-1
6. Joseph Lyttle (MC) def. Charles Pollard (WISE) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Colin Bumann/Joseph Lyttle (MC) def. Andrii Rutnytskyi/Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) 8-3
2. Jackson Lenoir/Fernando Gonzalez (MC) def. Oleg Kopychenko/Blake Pientka (WISE) 8-4
3. Joshua Crain/Daniel Peacock (MC) def. Noah Aldridge/Charles Pollard (WISE) 8-2