RICHMOND, Ky. – The EKU men's tennis team picked up its sixth consecutive win, after logging wins over Xavier University and the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on Friday at the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
The Colonels (7-6) edged the Musketeers in Friday's first match, 4-3, before handing Cumberlands a 7-0 loss.
 
Freshman Guillem Sanchis battled off two match points in a come from behind win in singles play to lift EKU to a 4-3 win over the Big East opponent.
 
After Sanchis and Xavier's Gabriel Araujo both claimed a set at the No. 5 spot, Sanchis trailed 5-3 in the deciding set. Sanchis staged a poised comeback, taking four straight games to secure the match-clinching point for the Colonels.
 
"It was a gritty, hard fought win for Guillem and the guys today," Head Coach Rob Oertel said. "Guillem has impressed me in practice and I knew he was going help us down the line."
 
The Colonels got off to a fast start, clinching the doubles' point decisively with three wins. Sebastian Mueller and Diego Asis posted a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot, as Alex Álvaro and Ramon van Flymen followed with a 6-3 at the No. 1 spot to solidify the point for EKU.
 
Xavier (4-2), however, responded in singles play, taking the first three singles' points to build a 3-1 lead.
 
Van Flymen's win at No. 3 singles closed the Xavier lead to 3-2, before Florian Graskamp added a 6-4, 6-1 win to tie the match at three points apiece.
 
With his teammates and coaches watching from adjacent courts, Sanchis edged Arajuo for the win.
 
In Friday's second match, the Colonels cruised to a 7-0 win over the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.).
 
The Colonels hit the road for dual matches at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Samford University next weekend.
 
 
Eastern Kentucky University 4, Xavier 3

Singles

1. Zach Mueck (XAV) def. Alex Álvaro (EKU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Jeremy Schneider (XAV) def. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Matt Bishop (XAV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Arthur Stefani (XAV) def. Diogo Soares (EKU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Guillem Sanchis (EKU) def. Gabriel Araujo (XAV) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
6. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Jack Dykema (XAV) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1. Alex Álvaro/Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Zach Mueck/Matt Bishop (XAV) 6-3
2. Sebastian Mueller/Diego Asis (EKU) def. Jeremy Schneider/Jack Dykema (XAV) 6-3
3. Diogo Soares/Indra Patwardhan (EKU) def. Gabriel Araujo/Arthur Stefani (XAV) 7-5

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,*1,3); Singles (2,4,1,3,6,*5) Official: Larry Sloomer T-3:05 A-30
 
Eastern Kentucky University 7, University of the Cumberlands 0

Singles

1. Alex Álvaro (EKU) def. Ariez Heshaam (UC) 6-1, 6-1
2. Diogo Soares (EKU) def. Daniel Butcher (UC) 6-3, 6-0
3. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Daniel Fraser (UC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Diego Asis (EKU) def. Aatu Merenheimo (UC) 6-3, 6-4
5. Indra Patwardhan (EKU) def. Leo. De Mello Couto (UC) 6-3, 6-1
6. Colin Hart (EKU) def. Yusuke Matsuoka (UC) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

1. Sebastian Mueller/Diego Asis (EKU) def. Daniel Fraser/Ariez Heshaam (UC) 6-2
2. Diogo Soares/Guillem Sanchis (EKU) def. Daniel Butcher/Aatu Merenheimo (UC) 6-4
3. Ramon van Flymen/Colin Hart (EKU) def. Yusuke Matsuoka/Dev Sivam (UC) 6-2

Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky University 7-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,*1,2); Singles (1,3,*2,4,5,6) T-3:30 A-18