WISE, Va. – After a 9-0 sweep at Concord University this past Sunday, the UVa-Wise men's tennis team clinched the No. 4 seed in this weekend's Mountain East Conference tournament. The Cavaliers (10-8, 4-3 MEC) will face fifth-seeded Fairmont State University Friday at 11 a.m. in the first round of the championship tournament. The 2016 MEC Men's Tennis Tournament is being held in Charleston, West Virginia at the Schoenbaum Tennis Courts.
 
With Sunday's win UVa-Wise secured its first winning season in over 10 years, the Cavs' 10-win season is among one of the best for Head Coach Danny Rowland. The men's team will compete in their second MEC tournament since UVa-Wise joined the league three seasons ago. The Cavs are seeking their first match win in the MEC tournament as neither the men's nor the women's team has ever advanced passed the first round of the conference tournament.
 
Earlier this month back on April 2, UVa-Wise defeated the Fighting Falcons on the road in a 5-4 thriller. With the dual match in the balance and tied at 4-4, sophomore Christopher Armistead held on for an exciting three-set win at No. 5 singles. Leading 6-2, 5-2, Armistead was forced into a second-set tiebreaker that he dropped 7-1, before claiming the third and final set 6-3 to clinch the match for UVa-Wise.
 
Fairmont State enters Friday's MEC tournament match with an 8-14 overall record and a 3-4 league mark. The Cavs have won six out of their last seven matches, including four of the last five conference contests.
 
In 2014, UVa-Wise earned the No. 6 seed in the MEC tournament and fell in its first-round match against third-seeded Shepherd University (5-0).
 
West Virginia Wesleyan, West Liberty and University of Charleston each claimed a share of the regular season championship with identical 6-1 records. After tiebreaking procedures, the Bobcats are the No. 1 seed in the MEC tournament and the Hilltoppers are the No. 2 seed. The top two seeds receive a bye in the first round. Charleston is seeded third while Shepherd is sixth to complete the tournament field.
 
Should rain occur Friday morning, the first-round match will take place indoors across the street from the outdoor courts at the Schoenbaum Tennis Courts. If UVa-Wise defeats Fairmont State Friday, the Cavs will take on top-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
Please visit mountaineast.org for complete tournament information or click on the "Tournament Central" link at the top of the page.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier men's tennis news, statistics, complete schedule and more.