RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team dropped a 4-2 decision to former conference rival Tennessee Tech on Thursday inside the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
With the loss, EKU falls to 6-9 overall and has now lost four straight matches.
 
Tennessee Tech (2-4) secured the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. The Colonels' top pairing battled the No. 89-ranked duo of Alex Alvarez and Davids Spaks, but ultimately fell 6-2. EKU also dropped the match on court three by a 6-2 margin.
 
In singles play, EKU mounted a strong response, pushing four of the six matches to three sets.
 
Senior Nuno Pinheiro earned a hard-fought victory at No. 1 singles, defeating Oliver Dao, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. Joao Barreto added the Colonels' second point with a straight sets win at No. 4 singles, topping Diego Munoz, 6-4, 6-0.
 
EKU couldn't find the finish on court Nos. 2, 3, and 5 to end Thursday's match with the loss. The Colonels were up on court No. 6 before the match was declared unfinished.
 
EKU returns to action on Saturday with a home doubleheader against Furman and Chattanooga. First serve is scheduled for 9 a.m. ET.
 
Tennessee Tech 4, EKU 2
 
Doubles
1. #89 Alex Alvarez/Davids Spaks (TTU) def. Nuno Pinheiro/Kartik Parhar (EKU) 6-2
2. Oliver Dao/Linus Rohlin (TTU) vs. Ilie Cazac/Joao Barreto (EKU) 4-3, unf.
3. Murilo Burckhardt/Diego Munoz (TTU) def. Fernando Bulnes/Adrian Contreras (EKU) 6-2
 
Singles
1. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) def. Oliver Dao (TTU) 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
2. Alex Alvarez (TTU) def. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) 6-2, 6-7, 6-3
3. Davids Spaks (TTU) def. Ilie Cazac (EKU) 6-2, 6-7, 7-6
4. Joao Barreto (EKU) Diego Munoz (TTU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Murilo Burckhardt (TTU) def. Adrian Contreras (EKU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Kartik Parhar (EKU) vs. Ricard Yepez (TTU) 6-2, 3-2, unf.