URBANA, Ill. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team put up a strong showing in a 5-2 road loss against No. 14 Illinois on Friday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center.
 
With the loss, EKU falls to 11-14 on the season with one more match remaining in the regular season.
 
The Colonels fought in doubles play, seniors Fernando Bulnes and Adrian Contreras defeated Jeremy Zhang and Adam Jilly 6-4 on court three but lost on courts one and two.
 
In singles, EKU continued their fight and picked up two singles wins but didn't have enough in the tank to overcome its nationally ranked opponent with two singles players listed top 40 in the country.
 
Bulnes won on court three over Illinois' Hayden Jones 6-2, 6-4 which was one of the best victories of his collegiate career. Contreras continued the showing on court six defeating Illinois' David Bakonyi in straight 6-4 sets.
 
EKU wraps up the regular season on Friday, April 10 on the road against Lipscomb. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
 
Doubles
1.David Bakonyi/Zach Viiala (ILL) def. Nuno Pinheiro/Marek Nano (EKU) 6-4
2. Tyler Bowers/Hayden Jones (ILL) def. Ilie Cazac/Joao Barreto (EKU) 6-3
3. Fernando Bulnes/Adrian Contreras (EKU) def. Jeremy Zhang/Adam Jilly (ILL) 6-4
 
Singles
1. #17 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) 6-0, 6-3
2. #37 Gabriel Debru (ILL) def. Marek Nano (EKU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) def. Hayden Jones (ILL) 6-2, 6-4
4. Sasha Colleu (ILL) def. Ilie Cazac (EKU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) def. Joao Barreto (EKU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Adrian Contreras (EKU) def. David Bakonyi (ILL) 6-4, 6-4