INDIANAPOLIS – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis program picked up its first wins of the 2026 season defeating Butler and IU Indianapolis on Sunday at the West Indy Racquet Club.
EKU (2-3) defeated Butler via a thrilling 4-3 decision in the morning and stormed back to win 5-2 over IU Indy later in the day.
Freshman
Marek Nano went 2-0 on the day on court No. 2, defeating Butler's Nicholas Arts 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the morning and then winning over IU Indy's Konner Gunwall 4-6, 7-6, 10-5 at night. The Slovakian is 3-1 through four matches this season from spot No. 2 with his only loss coming against Power Five competition.
Colonels
Joao Barreto,
Ilie Cazac,
Nuno Pinheiro,
Adrian Contreras, and
Romeo Elfving Navarro all picked up at least one victory on the day. EKU took the doubles advantage in both matches, winning on court Nos. 1 and 3 against Butler and court Nos. 1 and 2 over Indy.
EKU returns to action on Friday, January 23 on the road at Middle Tennessee. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Match One – EKU 4, Butler 3
Doubles
1.
Nuno Pinheiro/
Ilie Cazac (EKU) def. Nicolas Arts/Rahulnik Konokanchi (BUT) 6-4
2.
Fernando Bulnes/
Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Riccardo Baldi/Arnesh Singh (BUT) 5-5, unf.
3.
Romeo Elfving Navarro/
Pepe Miralles (EKU) def. Ronin Kasday/Nicholas Shirley (BUT) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,1
Singles
1. Riccardo Baldi (BUT) def.
Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
2.
Marek Nano (EKU) def. Nicolas Arts (BUT) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Ronin Kasday (BUT) def.
Fernando Bulnes (EKU) 7-5, 6-4
4.
Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Nicholas Shirley (BUT) 7-5, 7-6
5. Siddhartha Lama (BUT) def.
Adrian Contreras (EKU) 7-6, 6-2
6.
Ilie Cazac (EKU) def. Nicholas Balthazor (BUT) 7-6, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Match Two – EKU 5, IU Indianapolis 2
Doubles
1.
Nuno Pinheiro/
Ilie Cazac (EKU) def. Konner Gunwall/Owen Nguyen (INDY) 6-2
2.
Fernando Bulnes/
Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Eli Mercer/Pumiphat Sukkho (INDY) 6-3
3. Brandon Pham/Cameron Kryscio (INDY) def.
Marek Nano/
Adrian Contreras (INDY) 4-3, unf.
Order of Finish:
Singles
1.
Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) def. Eli Mercer (INDY) 6-1, 6-2
2.
Marek Nano (EKU) def. Konner Gunwall (INDY) 4-6, 7-6, 10-5
3. Owen Nguyen (INDY) def.
Joao Barreto (EKU) 6-2, 6-3
4.
Adrian Contreras (EKU) def. Pumiphat Sukkho (INDY) 6-0, 6-3
5. Cameron Kryscio (INDY) def.
Ilie Cazac (EKU) 6-2, 6-4
6.
Romeo Elfving Navarro (EKU) def. Brandon Pham (INDY) 7-5, 6-2
Order of Finish:
