RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team opens the 2026 spring season this week with five matches, highlighted by a home opener against East Tennessee State on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
EKU's season opener against East Tennessee State is scheduled for approximately 2 p.m. ET.
 
The Colonels will then hit the road for their remaining four matches of the week, beginning with a doubleheader at Louisville on Wednesday, Jan. 14. EKU wraps up the opening stretch with matches against Butler and IU Indianapolis on Saturday, Jan. 18.
 
Heading into the spring, the Colonels return nearly their entire roster from a season ago and welcome three highly touted freshmen. Returning contributors include preseason All-ASUN selection Nuno Pinheiro, along with Fernando Bulnes, Adrian Contreras, Romeo Elfving Navarro, Pepe Miralles and Kartik Parhar.
 
Newcomers to the roster include Joao Barreto (Portugal), Ilie Cazac (Moldova), and Marek Nano (Slovakia).
 
Last season, EKU finished 9-17 overall and posted a 6-4 record at home. Individually, the Colonels had two players reach double-digit singles wins from the top two courts.
 
Pinheiro, a First Team All-ASUN selection, led the team with 14 singles victories, including a 7-5 record from court one and a 6-1 mark from court two. The Portugal native finished the season with 26 total wins, adding 12 in doubles play and was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week.
 
Bulnes collected 10 singles wins and went 6-3 from court two, earning Second Team All-ASUN honors. Contreras also returns after recording eight singles victories, primarily from court three.
 
Admission to the Greg Adams Tennis Center is free for the entire 2025-26 season. Fans can view the complete schedule on EKUSports.com and follow EKU men's tennis on social media for live updates throughout the season.