HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - - No. 5 UVa-Wise defeated No. 4 West Liberty University 4-2 Wednesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Mountain East Conference Tournament. After dropping the doubles point to West Liberty, the Cavaliers rallied to win four singles matches to secure the victory over the Hilltoppers.

UVa-Wise (7-12) freshmen Liza Akimenko and Katya Akimenko opened the day with a dominating 6-0 victory at No. 1 doubles over West Liberty's Raissa Wagner and Anita Ponti. The Hillttoppers outlasted the Cavaliers in a pair of tough matches at number two, 6-4, over the Cavs' senior Montana Hill and freshman Lillian Morris as well as the number three spot, 7-5, as West Liberty's Laura Huwe and Alexandra Olson defeated junior Aya Melhem and freshman Grace Hall.

West Liberty's (14-9) Luisa Agudelo earned the first singles win of the day at the No. 5 spot as she defeated freshman Olivia Dishner, 6-2, 6-1. Melhem topped Wet Liberty's Huwe in a 6-3, 6-3 victory at number two for the first singles match victory of the tournament for UVa-Wise. The Cavs continued to roll as the Akimenko sisters each posted wins in their matches with Katya Akimenko defeating West Liberty's Ponti, 6-2, 6-1, at the No. 2 spot while Liza Akimenko won at number one, 6-2, 6-3, over Wagner. Hill wrapped up the day with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 4 over the Hilltoppers' Carleyah McLean while Morris and West Liberty's Olson's match did not finish at the number six position.

Head Coach Danny Rowland's squad will now advance to the semifinals where the Cavs will take on the top-seeded University of Charleston at 11 a.m. Thursday.