Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The men's tennis team handed Belmont its first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season, beating the Bruins 4-3 on Friday at the Greg Adams Indoor Tennis Center.
 
With the Colonels (14-7, 3-1 OVC) leading 3-2 in the match, but trailing 1-0 at No. 6 singles, Diego Asis played the hero at No. 5 singles.  The senior beat Stephen Goldman 6-4 in the first set, but trailed 5-4 in the second set.  He won three straight games to take the set 7-5 and secure the victory for Eastern.
 
Friday's match marked the sixth 4-3 victory for EKU this season.
 
"Just another classic, drama filled match for the men's team and we came out on the right in of a 4-3-er," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Rob Oertel said.  "The best thing about today was the high quality of tennis the guys played.  Belmont is a good team.  We had to have special performance today and win the big tough points, and for the most part we did."
 
After losing the doubles point and falling behind 1-0, the trio of Ramon van Flymen, Sebastian Mueller and Parth Aggarwal swung the momentum back in favor of the Colonels with straight set singles victories.
 
Mueller earned a 6-4 and 7-5 win at No. 2 singles to tie the match.  Aggarwal won at No. 4 by scores of 7-6 and 6-0 to tie the score again, 2-2.  He fought off two set-points in the first set.  van Flymen picked up a narrow 7-6 and 7-6 victory at No. 1 to get Eastern Kentucky within a point of winning the match.
 
"We played the tough points as well as we've played them all year and that's what it is going to take to have a special performance at the conference tournament," Oertel said.  "Hopefully we can keep this thing going."
 
Belmont moved to 8-11 overall and 2-1 against league teams.
 
The Colonels will conclude the home portion of their schedule on Saturday against Tennessee State University at the Tom Higgins Tennis Courts.  The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
 
Eastern Kentucky University 4, Belmont University 3
Singles competition
1. Ramon van Flymen (EKU) def. Cedric Dujacquier (BEL) 7-6, 7-6
2. Sebastian Mueller (EKU) def. Vincent Sterkens (BEL) 6-4, 7-5
3. Hendrik Inno (BEL) def. Jan Kuehling (EKU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
4. Parth Aggarwal (EKU) def. Zak Khan (BEL) 7-6, 6-0
5. Diego Asis (EKU) def. Stephen Goldman (BEL) 6-4, 7-5
6. Bruno Russo (BEL) def. Romain Stoffels (EKU) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Cedric Dujacquier/Hendrik Inno (BEL) def. Ramon van Flymen/Sebastian Mueller (EKU) 6-3
2. Stephen Goldman/Zak Khan (BEL) def. Jan Kuehling/Romain Stoffels (EKU) 7-6
3. Parth Aggarwal/Diego Asis (EKU) def. Bruno Russo/Vincent Sterkens (BEL) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Belmont University 8-11 (2-1 OVC)
Eastern Kentucky University 14-7 (3-1 OVC)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2*); Singles (2,3,4,1,5*,6)
Official: Larry Sloane