CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team opened OVC action Saturday with a convincing 6-1 victory over host Eastern Illinois. Following a win yesterday at Indiana State, the Colonels now stand at 10-8 overall and 1-0 in the OVC while the Panthers fall to 7-6 and 0-1.

Eastern Kentucky took five of the six singles matches in straight sets. Sophomore Alex Das Izquierdo, EKU’s No. 1 player, rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over EIU’s Jeff Rutherford. Freshman Niklas Schroeder (No. 5) also won his match without dropping a single game.

“Das stepped up today and took on a bit of a leadership role,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “This was arguably our best overall performance of the spring.”

The Colonels are back in action next weekend with two more OVC road matches –at Murray State (March 28) and at Tennessee State (March 29).

Eastern Kentucky 6, Eastern Illinois 1

Singles
1. Alex Das Izquierdo (EKU) def. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Jordan Nestrud (EIU) def. Mel Segota (EKU) 6-1, 6-7, (10-7)
3. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) def. Vuk Milicevic (EIU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Carles Pons Escanilla (EKU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) def. Jamie Firth (EIU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Emilio Piriz (EKU) def. Drew Grimaldi (EIU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1. Das Izquierdo/Pons Escanilla (EKU) def. Milicevic/Nestrud (EIU) 8-5
2. Hilgert/Rutherford (EIU) def. Schroeder/Segota (EKU) 8-5
3. Piriz/Valdenebro (EKU) def. Davis/Firth (EIU) 8-6

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