RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team picked up two decisive victories over Southern Indiana and Bellarmine on Wednesday at the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
EKU (11-13) swept Southern Indiana, 4-0, in the morning before returning to defeat in-state and ASUN Conference rival Bellarmine, 4-1, later in the day.
 
The Colonels honored a six-member senior class of Adrian Contreras, Romeo Elfving Navarro, Nuno Pinheiro, Fernando Bulnes, Pepe Miralles and Kartik Parhar prior to the morning match.
 
With Wednesday's results, EKU improved its positioning toward an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament berth and is currently projected to enter the tournament as a top-five seed beginning April 13.
 
EKU secured the doubles point in both victories. The Colonels posted 6-1 and 6-4 wins on courts one and two against Southern Indiana and followed that with two 6-2 victories on the same courts against Bellarmine.
 
In singles play, Pinheiro, Bulnes, Parhar, Ilie Cazac, Joao Barreto and Marek Nano all recorded victories across the two matches.
 
Against Southern Indiana, Pinheiro earned a straight-sets victory on court one, defeating Axel Sabourin, 6-0, 6-3, for his seventh win at the top flight this season. Cazac won 6-3, 6-3 on court three over Jy Hibbert, while Parhar cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Kalani Hibbert on court six.
 
Against Bellarmine, Nano earned a straight sets win on court two over Eli Wood, 6-4, 7-5. Bulnes picked up his ninth win of the season with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Ryan Perkins on court three, while Barreto earned a win by retirement over Alex English after taking the first set, 6-0.
 
EKU returns to action Friday, April 3, traveling to face No. 14 Illinois. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.
 
Match One – EKU 4, Southern Indiana 0
 
Doubles
1. Nuno Pinheiro/Kartik Parhar (EKU) def. Mathys Bove/Axel Sabourin (USI) 6-1
2. Ilie Cazac/Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Jy Hibbert/Kalani Hibbert (USI) 6-4
3. Fernando Bulnes/Pepe Miralles (EKU) vs. Aaron Dawson/Adam Koon (USI) 5-3, unf.
 
Singles
1. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) def. Axel Sabourin (USI) 6-0, 6-3
2. Aaron Dawson (USI) vs. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) 7-5, 1-2, unf.
3. Ilie Cazac (EKU) def. Jy Hibbert (USI) 6-3, 6-3
4. Joao Barreto (EKU) vs. Adam Koon (USI) dns
5. Adrian Contreras (EKU) vs. Spencer Gillespie (USI) dns
6. Kartik Parhar (EKU) def. Kalani Hibbert (USI) 6-0, 6-0
 
Match Two – EKU 4, Bellarmine 1
 
Doubles
1. Nuno Pinheiro/Marek Nano (EKU) def. Ryan Perkins/Eli Wood (BELL) 6-2
2. Ilie Cazac/Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Matthew Nice/Colby Berson (BELL) 6-2
3. Fernando Bulnes/Adrian Contreras (EKU) vs. Alex English/Zak Vince (BELL) 4-3, unf.
 
Singles
1. Matthew Nice (BELL) def. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) 7-5, 6-2
2. Marek Nano (EKU) def. Eli Wood (BELL) 6-4, 7-5
3. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) def. Ryan Perkins (BELL) 6-2, 6-1
4. Ilie Cazac (EKU) vs. Zak Vince (BELL) 6-3, 6-7, unf.
5. Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Alex English (BELL) 6-0, 1-0, ret.
6. Adrian Contreras (EKU) vs. Colby Berson (BELL) 7-5, 6-6, unf.