Buckhannon, WV -- Bluefield State used a sweep of the doubles matches to key an 8-1 win over West Virginia Wesleyan in men's tennis action here Monday afternoon.


The Big Blues, ranked #17 in Division II and the top ranked program in the Atlantic region, took command after capturing a hard fought win at #1 doubles to finish the doubles matches up 3-0. BSU then claimed five of the singles matches, although the 'Cats managed to make it interesting by going into the third set in four of the six matches. 

Down in the team score by 0-2 after falling at #2 and #3 doubles, Wesleyan's Yonas Gebre and Maycon Dias were serving for the top doubles match leading 7-5. but Bluefield's Alex Rudenco and Giorgi Datavshili fought back to even the match, saving four match points on the way to a tie-break. In the breaker, up 5-4, Gebre just missed on a tough drop volley attempt off a let cord,  which got the Bluefield duo back on serve, and from there they took the final two points for the match.   

"Our guys definitely showed up, and we gave them our best shot," said Wesleyan coach Marc Walters, whose team slipped to 7-3 on the year. "You just have to credit Bluefield State. They are a top 20 team for a reason. They got the fast start, and then handled our loud and energetic crowd, and raised their level when they had to." 

The 'Cats did not go quietly however, battling for another two and a half hours before the BIg Blues claimed the clinching point at #4 singles. Wesleyan managed to take their matches to third sets at the #1, #2, #3 and #6 positions while also battling deep into the matches at #4 and #5.

"We won more sets today than we did in the previous 3 years against these guys, but the score does not reflect it." said Walters. "I was surprised we dropped points at a couple spots we were in command, but that can happen when the momentum gets away from you."

The match-up was also a battle of the two top ranked teams in the Atlantic region, as well as of nationally ranked teams. Wesleyan, which came into the contest ranked at #37 in Division II, will return the to the courts on Thursday when they visit West Virginia State for an MEC contest.