RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team picked up its 10th victory of the season Saturday with a 5-2 decision over visiting Eastern Illinois.

Sophomores Hugo Klientovsky (No. 2), Carles Pons (No. 4) and Philip Janz (No. 5) all won their singles matches in straight sets. The best match of the day came at No. 1 singles where EIU’s Jeff Rutherford outlasted sophomore Niklas Schroeder in a super tie-breaker, 11-9.

“Special kudos have to go out to Carles Pons and Philip Janz today,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “They dominated play in the bottom half of the line-up. Now we are really looking forward to a big match tomorrow with Tennessee Tech.”

EKU and Tennessee Tech will meet in a battle of undefeated OVC teams tomorrow, March 28 beginning at 12 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky 5, Eastern Illinois 2

Singles
1. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) 4-6, 6-1, (11-9)
2. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) def. Warren Race (EIU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) def. Jamie Firth (EIU) 4-6, 6-4, (10-3)
4. Carles Pons (EKU) def. Justin Haag (EIU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Philip Janz (EKU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Parul Verma (EKU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Janz/Schroeder (EKU) def. Haag/Rutherford (EIU) 8-4
2. Das/Valdenebro (EKU) def. Hilgert/Race (EIU) 8-6
3. Klientovsky/Pons (EKU) def. Firth/Sperry (EIU) 8-1

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (10-8, 3-0 OVC); Eastern Illinois (3-11, 0-2 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (2, 5, 4*, 6, 1, 3)