CHARLETON, Ill. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team won five of the six singles matches in straight sets for a convincing 6-1 win at Eastern Illinois Saturday.

The Colonels (11-12, 6-2 OVC) have now won six of their last seven matches.

The only close match was at No. 1 singles where Eastern Illinois’ Michael Sperry edged sophomore Daridge Saidi, 6-4, 7-5.

Freshman Lucas Smets (No. 4) did not drop a single game in his win while sophomore Juanjo de la Llera (No. 2) and junior Joao Maio (No. 5) each dropped just two games.

Eastern Kentucky needs a win tomorrow, April 14 at SIUE or a loss by Jacksonville State at Austin Peay to wrap up the number three seed for the OVC tournament.

Eastern Kentucky 6, Eastern Illinois 1

Singles
1. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Daridge Saidi (EKU)   6-4, 7-5
2. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) def. Warren Race (EIU)  6-2, 6-0
3. Alex Alvaro (EKU) def. Robert Skolik (EIU)   6-2, 6-1
4. Lucas Smets (EKU) def. Rui Silva (EIU)   6-0, 6-0
5. Joao Maio (EKU) def. Kevin Bauman (EIU)   6-1, 6-1
6. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Vova Zverkovsky (EIU)  6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. de la Llera/Smets (EKU) def. Race/Sperry (EIU)  8-2
2. Alvaro/Saidi (EKU) vs. Bauman/Skolik (EIU)   4-4 DNF
3. Dombrowski/Maio (EKU) def. Constantinescu/Silva (EIU) 8-4

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (11-12, 6-2); Eastern Illinois (7-9, 2-6)
Order of Finish: Doubles (n/a); Singles (n/a)