RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting Eastern Illinois rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team Sunday afternoon. Due to wintry conditions, the match was played indoors at the Greg Adams Tennis Center.

The Panthers (4-5, 1-1 OVC) won what turned out to be a critical doubles point. The deciding match was at the No. 3 spot where Moritz Kandt and Grant Thompson edged sophomore Florian Graskamp and freshman Sebastian Mueller in a tie-breaker, 7-5.

In singles, the Colonels (7-7, 1-2) cruised in the top three singles matches to jump ahead in the team score, 3-1. However, Eastern Illinois bounced back to win the final three matches, including the decisive match at No. 5 singles. EIU's Rui Silva held off Mueller in that match, 6-4, 7-6.

The Colonels have the next week off to regroup before hosting rival Morehead State on March 26.

Eastern Illinois 4, Eastern Kentucky 3

Singles
1. Daridge Saidi (EKU) def. Moritz Kandt (EIU)   6-3, 6-1
2. Alex Alvaro (EKU) def. Ryan Henderson (EIU)   6-2, 7-5
3. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) def. Grant Thompson (EIU)  6-3, 6-4
4. Robert Skolik (EIU) def. Florian Graskamp (EKU)  6-4, 6-4
5. Rui Silva (EIU) def. Sebastian Mueller (EKU)   6-4, 7-6
6. Kevin Bauman (EIU) def. Alberto Tintoré (EKU  6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Alvaro/de la Llera (EKU) def. Bauman/Skolik (EIU)  8-3
2. Henderson/Silva (EIU) def. Asis/Saidi (EKU)   8-2
3. Kandt/Thompson (EIU) def. Graskamp/Mueller (EKU) 8-7 (5)

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (7-7, 1-2 OVC); Eastern Illinois (4-5, 1-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3*); Singles (1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5*)