RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team made an early statement in the Ohio Valley Conference race with a 5-2 win over Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon in the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
The Gamecocks (5-7, 1-1 OVC) won the 2014 league title and were voted preseason OVC co-favorites this spring.
 
Three of the singles matches went to a deciding third set and the other three easily could have gone the distance as well. However, EKU (8-5, 2-0) won each of those matches in a second set tiebreaker.
 
Sophomore Sebastian Mueller, who battled Jacksonville State's Mathias Chaim all the way to a third set tiebreaker, pulled out his fifth consecutive victory. Senior Juanjo de la Llera cemented the team victory with his fifth straight win, a 6-1, 7-6 decision at the No. 6 spot.
 
"The guys really embraced the crucial points in this match," EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. "We've struggled with that in the past, so I was very happy to see everyone step up today."
 
The Colonels return to the tennis courts next weekend with a pair of home OVC matches – Tennessee State (March 20) and Belmont (March 21).
 
Eastern Kentucky 5, Jacksonville State 2
 
Singles
1. Jeff Wendler-Filho (JSU) def. Alex Álvaro (EKU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Pedro Wagner (JSU) 6-4, 7-6
3. Dylan Gee (JSU) def. Daridge Saidi (EKU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
4. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) def. Mathias Chaim (JSU) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
5. Diogo Soares (EKU) def. Jaryd Reese (JSU) 6-4, 7-6 (4)
6. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) def. Felipe Wenzel (JSU) 6-1, 7-6
 
Doubles
1. Soares/van Flymen (EKU) vs. Wagner/Wendler-Filho (JSU) 3-3 DNF
2. de la Llera/Mueller (EKU) def. Chaim/Gee (JSU) 8-3
3. Álvaro/Asis (EKU) def. Reese/Wenzel (JSU) 8-3
 
Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (8-5, 2-0 OVC); Jacksonville State (5-7, 1-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3*); Singles (2, 1, 3, 4, 6*, 5)