HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – UVa-Wise women's tennis was ousted from the 2016 Mountain East Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Friday afternoon in Huntington, West Virginia, by West Liberty University. The fourth-seeded Hilltoppers (7-4, 4-3 MEC) claimed four straight-set singles matches and one doubles match to upend the fifth-seeded Cavaliers (8-8, 3-4 MEC).
 
Despite leading 2-1 after doubles play, UVa-Wise struggled to find its rhythm in singles play. Forced to play inside due to the weather conditions in Huntington, the Cavs found themselves competing on the faster surface of the indoor courts. UVa-Wise captured No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and were in the middle of hard-fought three-set matches at No. 1 and No. 4 singles when the match went final.
 
The tandem of junior Daria Tyshchenko (Kirovograd, Ukraine) and senior Marti Gay (Denton, Texas) earned an 8-5 doubles win at the top spot over West Liberty's Rhiannon James and Laura Huwe. At No. 2 doubles it was the duo of freshman Aya Melhem (Rockvale, Tenn.) and senior Bailey Christoforatos (Fredericksburg, Va.) who notched a 8-6 victory against the Hilltoppers' Raquel Cabero and Alaina Pauley. Ana Berbel and Ekaterina Pinchuk of West Liberty topped freshman Taylor Carter (Church Hill, Tenn.) and sophomore Mackenzie Lawson (Wise, Va.) at the third position for the Hilltoppers' lone doubles win.
 
Gay was defeated 6-2, 6-1 by West Liberty's Andrea Puga at No. 5 singles, before the Hilltoppers' Huwe bested Christoforatos 6-1, 6-2 at the third spot. Recently named to the All-MEC Second Team, Melhem suffered a 6-2, 6-1 loss at the second position against Cabero of West Liberty. The Hilltoppers clinched the team victory when Pinchuk got by Lawson with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.
 
At fourth singles, Carter was leading the Hilltoppers' Berbel 3-2 in the third set when the match was clinched. Carter had already played two tiebreakers in her match, winning the first set 7-6 (1) before dropping the second 7-6 (1). Tyshchenko was trailing West Liberty's James 3-2 in the third set at the top singles position when the Hilltoppers earned the team victory. The All-MEC Second Team performer had won the first set, 9-7, in a tiebreaker but had fallen 6-4 in the second set. 
 
The Cavs now have the rest of the fall off from competition and will begin the spring non-conference season Saturday, Feb. 18, with a home match against Salem International University.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier women's tennis news, statistics, complete schedule and more.
 
Full Match Results
West Liberty University 5, UVa-Wise 2
 
Singles
1. Rhiannon James (WLU) vs. Daria Tyshchenko (WISE) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
2. Raquel Cabero (WLU) def. Aya Melhem (WISE) 6-2, 6-1
3. Laura Huwe (WLU) def. Bailey Christoforatos (WISE) 6-1, 6-2
4. Ana Berbel (WLU) vs. Taylor Carter (WISE) 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-1), 2-3, unfinished
5. Andrea Puga (WLU) def. Marti Gay (WISE) 6-2, 6-1
6. Ekaterina Pinchuk (WLU) def. Mackenzie Lawson (WISE) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Daria Tyshchenko/Marti Gay (WISE) def. Rhiannon James/Laura Huwe (WLU) 8-5
2. Aya Melhem/Bailey Christoforatos (WISE) def. Raquel Cabero/Alaina Pauley (WLU) 8-6
3. Ana Berbel/Ekaterina Pinchuk (WLU) def. Taylor Carter/Mackenzie Lawson (WISE) 8-3