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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time under head coach Rob Oertel after upending Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference title match Sunday afternoon, 4-2.
 
The Colonels (18-7), the tournament's top seed, avenged their only OVC loss in the regular season. The No. 3 seeded Govs (14-8) defeated Eastern Kentucky back on March 28, 5-2.
 
"I've never had a team that has been able to pull out as many tight matches as this team," EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. "I'm so proud of the guys, especially the seniors. They have grown up a lot in the last three years and played a huge role in our win today."
 
The Colonels dominated in doubles to grab an early 1-0 lead. Junior Alex Álvaro and sophomore Diego Asis rolled to an 8-2 win at the No. 2 spot. Sophomore Diogo Soares and freshman Ramon van Flymen clinched the point with an 8-4 decision at No. 3.
 
Austin Peay made a statement early in singles by winning the first set in all four of the opening matches. The Govs went on to take the No. 1 and No. 2 singles contests in straight sets to jump ahead of the Colonels, 2-1.
 
APSU looked poised to win its third singles point, but sophomore Sebastian Mueller fought off three match points in a second set tiebreaker. Mueller eventually won the breaker, 11-9, and pulled away in the third set for another Colonel point.
 
Before Mueller was able to finish his match, senior Daridge Saidi fought back to win the No. 3 singles match in three sets to even the score at 2-all.
 
Fellow senior Juanjo de la Llera finally ended the title match when he won the No. 6 singles match, 6-4, 6-2.
 
Eastern Kentucky has also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
 
The NCAA Tournament selection show is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. The show will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
 
2015 OVC Tournament – Championship Match
No. 1 Eastern Kentucky 4, No. 3 Austin Peay 2
 
Singles
1. Dimitar Ristovski (APSU) def. Alex Álvaro (EKU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Aleksas Tverijonas (APSU) def. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Daridge Saidi (EKU) def. Aaron Jumonville (APSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
4. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) def. Iago Seffrin (APSU) 4-6, 7-6 (9) 5-1 retired
5. Diogo Soares (EKU) led Manuel Montenegro (APSU) 6-3, 3-2 DNF
6. Juanjo de la Llera (EKU) def. Aleh Drobysh (APSU) 6-4, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. de la Llera/Mueller (EKU) led Ristovski/Seffrin (APSU) 7-4 DNF
2. Álvaro/Asis (EKU) def. Jumonville/Tverijonas (APSU) 8-2
3. Soares/van Flymen (EKU) def. Drobysh/Montenegro (APSU) 8-4
 
Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (18-7); Austin Peay (14-8)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3*); Singles (2, 1, 3, 4, 6*)