RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team opened defense of its 2010 OVC title with a 5-2 victory over Austin Peay Friday afternoon. The Colonels (12-3, 1-0 OVC) have now won 17 consecutive regular season league matches dating back to 2008.

The doubles point came down to a tie-breaker in the No. 1 contest. Senior Alex Das and junior Hugo Klientovsky outlasted Austin Peay’s Sean Bailey and Henrique Norbiato in the breaker, 7-4. Bailey and Norbiato entered the match 16-2 this year as a doubles team.

In singles, Das (No. 1), Klientovsky (No. 2) and junior Philip Janz (No. 4) all won in straight sets to secure the team victory. Junior Parul Verma (No. 5) also came away with a three-set triumph over Austin Peay’s Remi Calleja.

“Our high confidence level and past results played a big part in today’s win,” Eastern head coach Rob Oertel said. “Austin Peay is young and talented, and a team to be reckoned with in the future.”

Besides the OVC winning streak, EKU also kept alive its 29-match home winning streak that dates back to a 6-1 loss to Minnesota in February 2009.

The Colonels return to non-conference play next Tuesday, March 22 when EKU takes on Kentucky at 6 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky 5, Austin Peay 2

Singles
1. Alex Das (EKU) def. Jasmin Ademovic (APSU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) def. Henrique Norbiato (APSU) 7-6, 6-1
3. Sean Bailey (APSU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) 7-6, 6-3
4. Philip Janz (EKU) def. Joao Pagan (APSU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Parul Verma (EKU) def. Remi Calleja (APSU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
6. John Storie (APSU) def. Joao Maio (EKU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Das/Klientovsky (EKU) def. Bailey/Norbiato (APSU) 9-8 (4)
2. Janz/Schroeder (EKU) def. Ademovic/Calleja (APSU) 8-5
3. Pagan/Storie (APSU) def. Pons/Verma (EKU) 8-6

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (12-3, 1-0 OVC); Austin Peay (8-4, 1-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (1, 4, 6, 2*, 3, 5)