BLUEFIELD, Va. – The UVa-Wise men's tennis team was swept by a score of 9-0 as they opened up the fall portion of their schedule Monday afternoon against Bluefield College.

At the top doubles spot, senior duo Andrii Rutnytski and Viktor Tunnikov battled against Bluefield's Michael Gutu and Fedor Kulakov before falling, 8-6. Senior Chris Armistead and junior Ethan Herron were only able to grasp three points in their defeat at the hands of the Rams' Rodrigo Huarachi and Yaroslav Hnatusko. In his collegiate debut, freshman Coleton Burke teamed up with sophomore John Hamilton as the pair were unable to claim a point against Bluefield's Gabe Poling and Tanaka Rushwaya.

In singles play, UVa-Wise was stumped as Rutnytskyi dropped his match at the top singles spot against the Rams' Gutu, 6-3, 6-4. Fellow senior and doubles partner Tunnikov was defeated at No. 2 singles by Bluefield's Fedor Kulakov by a score of 6-0, 6-2. At the No. 3 singles spot, Armistead was upset by Huarachi of the Rams with a 6-2, 6-1 decision. Herron was only able to gain a point on his opponent in the first set before he was defeated by Bluefield's Yaroslav Hnatusko at the fourth spot. Burke was swept at the fifth spot by the Rams' Poling, 6-0, 6-0, while Hamilton would not be able to garner a point at the No. 6 singles position against Bluefield's Rushwaya.

The Cavs will have their home opener of the fall season as they take on Tusculum College on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. at the Jim and Betty Humphreys Tennis Complex.
 
Visit uvawisecavs.com for all Cavalier men's tennis news, statistics, complete schedule and more.
 
Full Match Results
Bluefield College 9, UVa-Wise 0
 
Singles
1. Michael Gutu (BC) def. Andrii Rutnytskyi (WISE) 6-3, 6-4
2. Fedor Kulakov (BC) def. Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) 6-0, 6-2
3. Rodrigo Huarachi (BC) def. Chris Armistead (WISE) 6-2, 6-1
4. Yaroslav Hnatusko (BC) def. Ethan Herron (WISE) 6-1, 6-0
5. Gabe Poling (BC) def. Coleton Burke (WISE) 6-0, 6-0
6. Tanaka Rushwaya (BC) def. John Hamilton (WISE) 6-0, 6-0 
Doubles
1. Michael Gutu/Fedor Kulakov (BC) def. Andrii Rutnytskyi/Viktor Tunnikov (WISE) 8-6
2. Rodrigo Huarachi/Yaroslav Hnatusko (BC) def. Chris Armistead/Ethan Herron (WISE) 8-3
3. Gabe Poling/Tanaka Rushwaya (BC) def. Coleton Burke/John Hamilton (WISE) 8-0