RICHMOND, Ky. – In a match that was tightly contested at every position, the Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team came out on top in a 5-2 win over Chattanooga Thursday afternoon in the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
"The best thing about today is that we won a lot of tight matches," EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. "Our guys really needed a match like this."
 
Chattanooga (1-8) went on top early after edging the Colonels (3-3) at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
 
The Mocs then went ahead, 2-1, after Nic Wilson won the No. 4 singles match. However, from there EKU rallied and took the final four matches on the court.
 
Both senior Daridge Saidi (No. 2) and freshman Ramon van Flymen (No. 3) pulled out a victory after dropping the first set of their respective matches. Sophomore Sebastian Mueller clinched the Colonel team victory with a 7-5, 6-3 decision at No. 5 singles.
 
Eastern Kentucky continues its eight-match home stand this Saturday, Feb. 14 with a pair of matches against Pikeville (12 p.m.) and Lindsey Wilson College (4 p.m.).
 
Eastern Kentucky 5, Chattanooga 2
 
Singles
1. Alex Álvaro (EKU) def. Nick Wingord (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
2. Daridge Saidi (EKU) def. Lucas Plesky (UTC) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5
3. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Luke Saunders (UTC) 6-7, 6-3, 7-6
4. Nic Wilson (UTC) def. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) def. Gino Delavalle (UTC) 7-5, 6-3
6. Diogo Soares (EKU) def. John Peacey (UTC) 6-4, 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Álvaro/de la Llera (EKU) vs. Plesky/Wilson (UTC) 7-7 (5-2) DNF
2. Saunders/Wingord (UTC) def. Asis/Mueller (EKU) 8-6
3. Delavalle/Grigorjevs (UTC) def. Soares/van Flymen (EKU) 8-7 (1)
 
Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (3-3); Chattanooga (1-8)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2*); Singles (1, 4, 2, 3, 5*, 6)