COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In a battle for first place in the conference standings, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team edged host Tennessee Tech Friday afternoon, 4-3. With the victory, the Colonels (16-8, 7-0 OVC) clinched the top spot in next weekend’s OVC tournament.

The Colonels once again opened action by taking the doubles point. Senior Mel Segota (No. 3) and freshman Carles Pons Escanilla (No. 6) each won their singles matches in straight sets. Freshman Carlos Valdenebro (No. 2) was the other EKU player to come away victorious.

The No. 1 singles match might have determined OVC Player of the Year honors. Tennessee Tech’s (10-7, 5-2) Dean O’Brien held off sophomore Alex Das Izquierdo 7-5 in the third set.

“This was a very emotional and evenly played match,” Eastern head coach Rob Oertel said. “Both teams showed lots of heart which is what collegiate tennis is all about.”

Eastern Kentucky concludes the regular season tomorrow, April 11, with a home match against Austin Peay. Match time is set for approximately 12 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky 4, Tennessee Tech 3

Singles
1. Dean O’Brien (TTU) def. Alex Das Izquierdo (EKU) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
2. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) def. Josh Girling (TTU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
3. Mel Segota (EKU) def. Alex Chen (TTU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Justin Kirstein (TTU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Oscar Pachon (TTU) def. Parul Verma (EKU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Carles Pons Escanilla (EKU) def. Mario Gutierrez (TTU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Girling/O’Brien (TTU) vs. Das Izquierdo/Pons Escanilla (EKU) DNF
2. Schroeder/Verma (EKU) def. Chen/Gutierrez (TTU) 8-5
3. Segota/Valdenebro (EKU) def. Kirstein/Pachon (TTU) 8-4

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