GADSDEN, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team opened Ohio Valley Conference play Sunday with a 5-2 victory over Jacksonville State. EKU was the preseason favorite to win the league title.

The Colonels (10-5, 1-0 OVC) swept the three doubles matches to begin action before winning three of the six singles matches in straight sets. EKU’s top player, senior Hugo Klientovsky, set the tone with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jacksonville State’s Axel Sundberg.

“Our doubles were rock solid today which was important because we needed to get off to a good start,” Eastern Kentucky head coach Rob Oertel said.

The Colonels are back in action next weekend with a pair of road matches in Virginia – James Madison (March 16) and Virginia (March 17).

Eastern Kentucky 5, Jacksonville State 2

Singles
1. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) def. Axel Sundberg (JSU)   6-2, 6-1
2. Igor Santos (JSU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU)    5-7, 6-2, 6-1
3. Nenad Marcec (JSU) def. Philip Janz (EKU)    6-4, 6-1
4. Parul Verma (EKU) def. Felipe Watanabe (JSU)    6-3, 6-1
5. Joao Maio (EKU) def. Joshua Bourke (JSU)    6-4, 7-5
6. Carles Pons (EKU) def. Felipe Wenzel (JSU)    3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)

Doubles
1. Klientovsky/Pons (EKU) def. Marcec/Sundberg (JSU)   8-5
2. Janz/Schroeder (EKU) def. Cowling/Santos (JSU)   8-0
3. Campbell/Verma (EKU) def. Watanabe/Wenzel (JSU)   8-2

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (10-5, 1-0 OVC); Jacksonville State (3-9, 0-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (3, 1, 4, 5*, 2, 6)