WISE, Va. – The UVa-Wise men's tennis team earned their first win of the 2015 fall non-conference season by taking down Montreat College 5-4 Thursday afternoon at the Jim and Betty Humphreys Tennis Complex.
 
The UVa-Wise Cavaliers (1-2) continued their four-match homestand to begin the fall campaign with a win over the visiting Cavaliers of Montreat (0-1), giving the Cavs their first win since April 4 when they defeated Berea College (Ky.).
 
After falling behind 2-1 after doubles the Cavs fought back in singles to claim four out of the six singles matches for the team victory.
 
The doubles duo of sophomore Andrii Rutnytskyi and freshman Ethan Herron at the No. 1 spot earned an 8-4 win over Montreat's Leopoldo Lucero and Lorward Choi for the Cavs lone doubles point.
 
Senior Oleg Kopychenko and sophomore Viktor Tunnikov were unable to get a win at No. 2 doubles, falling 8-5 to Mateo Barroetavena and Tanner Wilhoit of Montreat.  Freshman Blake Pientka and Noah Aldridge also came up short at No. 3 doubles as the pair lost 8-4 to Montreat's David Garcia and Luke Cory.
 
The Cavs won the top four singles matches to clinch the match at 5-2 before the Cavaliers of Montreat took No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
 
Both Tunnikov and Kopychenko earned straight-set wins in singles as they were the only two singles wins not to be decided by a 10-point tiebreaker. Tunnikov was the first off the court in singles as he downed Montreat's Garcia 6-3, 6-2 at the fourth spot. Kopychenko clinched the team win for the Cavs at No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Lucero of Montreat.
 
Rutnytskyi battled his way back at the top singles position after dropping the first set 6-1, to claim the second set 6-0 and the 10-point tiebreaker 10-7 against Montreat's Barroetavena.
 
In his collegiate debut Herron gained a 6-3, 0-6, (10-1) match victory over Choi of Montreat at No. 3 singles.
 
Aldridge and Pientka were not able to get singles victories at No. 5 and No. 6 as Aldridge was tripped up in straight sets, 7-6 (2), 6-3, at the fifth spot and Pientka came up just a couple points shy at the sixth position, 4-6, 7-6 (9), (10-6).
 
"Every match was close but I like the fact that we dug out enough close matches to win", Head Coach Danny Rowland stated after the contest. "We won two super tiebreaks which are always big and it was the difference in the match."
 
"The team just came out with a lot of energy and they were excited to play", added the head coach. "They didn't get down after doubles; you've got to give them a lot of credit, they hung in there and pulled it out."
 
The Cavs will finish up their homestand Sunday when they welcome NCAA Division III Maryville College to Wise. First serve is schedule for 2 p.m. along with the women's team playing at the same time.
 
Full Match Results
UVa-Wise 5, Montreat College 4
 
Singles
1. Andrii Rutnytskyi (WISE) def. Mateo Barroetavena (MTRT) 1-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Oleg Kopychenko (WISE) def. Leopoldo Lucero (MTRT) 6-1, 6-3
3. Ethan Herron (WISE) def. Lorward Choi (MTRT) 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 (10-1)
4. Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) def. David Garcia (MTRT) 6-3, 6-2
5. Tanner Wilhoit (MTRT) def. Noah Aldridge (WISE) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
6. Luke Cory (MTRT) def. Blake Pientka (WISE) 4-6, 7-6 (11-9), 1-0 (10-6)
 
Doubles
1. Andrii Rutnytskyi/Ethan Herron (WISE) def. Leopoldo Lucero/Lorward Choi (MTRT) 8-4
2. Mateo Barroetavena/Tanner Wilhoit (MTRT) def. Oleg Kopychenko/Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) 8-5
3. David Garcia/Luke Cory (MTRT) def. Blake Pientka/Noah Aldridge (WISE) 8-4