NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – The EKU men's tennis team dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference match with a 4-3 loss to Belmont University at the Centennial Sportsplex on Friday.

EKU (12-10, 2-1 OVC) logged consecutive shutout wins to open conference play last weekend, but could not regain momentum after falling behind in doubles action on Friday.
 
Friday's match came down to the wire, as the Bruins held on for the win. Belmont (5-7, 1-2 OVC) took the doubles points, but the Colonels fought back in singles action.
 
Wins from Diogo Soares and Florian Graskamp put the Colonels in front, 2-1, before Belmont regained the lead with singles wins at the No. 1 and the No. 4 spot.
 
Senior Alex Álvaro fought off four match points in a 7-5 comeback win at No. 2 singles to push the match to the deciding match. Trailing 5-4, Álvaro rallied from 40-love to extend the match and remain unbeaten in OVC singles play.
 
Belmont, however, clinched the match with a win at No. 3 singles.

The Colonels will take on Tennessee State and Lipscomb on Saturday. Saturday's first match is scheduled for 11 a.m. with the second slated to start at 2 p.m.
 
Belmont 4, Eastern Kentucky University 3

Singles

1. Cedric Dujacquier (BELM) def. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Alex Álvaro (EKU) def. Robin Demasse (BELM) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Adam Rudowski (BELM) def. Guillem Sanchis (EKU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2)
4. Zak Khan (BELM) def. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Diogo Soares (EKU) def. Stephen Goldman (BELM) 6-4, 6-1
6. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Bruno Russo (BELM) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles 

1. Cedric Dujacquier/Robin Demasse (BELM) vs. Alex Álvaro/Ramon van Flymen (EKU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Stephen Goldman/Zak Khan (BELM) def. Diego Asis/Sebastian Mueller (EKU) 6-4
3. Adam Rudowski/Bruno Russo (BELM) def. Diogo Soares/Indra Patwardhan (EKU) 6-0

Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky University 12-10, 2-1 Belmont 5-7, 1-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2*) Singles (5,6,1,4,2,*3)