RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting Eastern Illinois defeated the Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team Friday in the Greg Adams Tennis Center, 5-2. The Panthers improve to 9-6 overall and 3-1 in the OVC while the Colonels fall to 10-10 and 1-2.

EIU opened play with convincing wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take the doubles point. After the two teams split the top four singles matches, the Panthers won the bottom two contests to clinch the victory.

Junior Mel Segota (No. 2) and sophomore Johannes John (No. 3) tallied the lone singles wins for the Colonels.

“Something tells me we might see this team again in the OVC tournament,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “We look forward to hopefully playing them again on outdoor courts.”

The Colonels are right back in action tomorrow, March 29, in a home match against Murray State. Match time is set for 10 a.m.

Eastern Illinois 5, Eastern Kentucky 2

Singles
1. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) d. Lars Gratzki (EKU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Mel Segota (EKU) d. Vuk Milicevic (EIU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Johannes John (EKU) d. Robert Stedman (EIU) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6
4. Jordan Nestrud (EIU) d. Fred Goncalves (EKU) 7-6, 7-6
5. Chris Thomas (EIU) d. Vadzim Ivanis (EKU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Felipe Gama (EIU) d. Francisco Fontoura (EKU) 2-6, 6-1, (10-6)

Doubles
1. Goncalves/Gratzki (EKU) d. Stedman/Thomas (EIU) 8-6
2. Bush/Nestrud (EIU) d. Ivanis/Segota (EKU) 8-3
3. Milicevic/Rutherford (EIU) d. Fontoura/John (EKU) 8-4