INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's tennis team moved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in Mountain East Conference play here Saturday afternoon with a 7-0 shutout of West Virginia State.
    Coach Ron Hulewicz's Hilltoppers jumped out to an early lead in doubles, taking all three matches by identical 6-2 county to earn the doubles point.
    That dominance continued through singles play as the Black and Gold lost only two sets – one via tiebreaker – in completing the clean sweep.
    Posting wins in singles and doubles action for West Liberty were Anton Schulz, Nevio Dux, Gianluca Gerndt, Isfan Makhumudov and Daisuke Aota. Derek Roehner won the No. 6 singles match in convincing fashion, 6-1 6-0, while Moritz Erpel teamed with Gerndt for the No. 2 doubles win.
    The Hilltoppers open play in this week's Hilton Head (S.C.) Spring Break Tournament on Sunday with a 5 p.m. match against Chowan (N.C.).
  Schulz (WLU) d. Gutierrez, 6-1 2-6 6-2
Aota (WLU) d. Cottrell, 6-4 6-4
Gerndt (WLU) d. Mullins, 6-4 6-7(5) 10-5
Makhumudov (WLU) d. Valencia, 6-1 6-4
Dux (WLU) d. Flores, 6-3 7-6(3)
Roehner (WLU) d. Reyes, 6-1 6-0 Dux/Schulz (WLU) d. Gutierrez/Flores, 6-2
Gerndt/Erpel (WLU) d. Cottrell/Valencia, 6-2
Aota/Makhumudov (WLU) d. Mullins/Anderson, 6-2