JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team wrapped up its spring break trip Wednesday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to host Jacksonville. The Colonels fall to 8-7 while the Dolphins improve to 6-3.

Freshmen Parul Verma (No. 4) and Carles Pons Escanilla (No. 5) each won their matches in straight sets, but both came after the team outcome had been decided. Meanwhile, sophomore Alex Das Izquierdo dropped a very tight match at No. 1 singles to Jacksonville’s Jordi Ballester.

“The difference today was a couple of key pressure points,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “We just didn’t execute in the important situations.”

Eastern Kentucky is back in action on Sunday, March 15 at Kentucky. Match time is set for 6 p.m.

Jacksonville 5, Eastern Kentucky 2

Singles
1. Jordi Ballester (JU) def. Alex Das Izquierdo (EKU) 2-6, 6-3, (12-10)
2. Francisco Riveroll (JU) def. Mel Segota (EKU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Victor Vaz (JU) def. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Parul Verma (EKU) def. Murilo Souza (JU) 6-4, 7-6
5. Carles Pons Escanilla (EKU) def. Jaime Esteban (JU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Matthew Rock (JU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
1. Riveroll/Rock (JU) def. Schroeder/Segota (EKU) 9-7
2. Souza/Vaz (JU) def. Das Izquierdo/Pons Escanilla (EKU) 9-8
3. Ballester/Oliveira (JU) def. Valdenebro/Verma (EKU) 8-2

Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 6, 3, 2*, 5, 1, 4