FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis squads went a combined 3-0 on Saturday, as the Panther men downed Dayton, 5-2, and both EIU squads swept Robert Morris College, 7-0.  All matches were played at the Pine Ridge Racquet and Fitness Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

With the wins, the EIU men move to 3-2 overall, while the Panther women are now 2-3 on the early spring season.

"Our doubles play really improved today, especially on the men's side," said EIU head coach John Blackburn.  "The duos are making good strikes and the singles play has become much more consistent."

Versus the Dayton Flyers, the Panthers picked up the important doubles point by winning two of the three duo matchups.  Vuk Milicevic and Jordan Nestrud won at No. 1 and Jeff Rutherford and Matyas Hilgert teamed up to win at No. 2.  The duo of Jamie Firth and Drew Grimaldi, unfortunately, lost their match at No. 3.

In singles action, four Panthers were victorious with junior Jeff Rutherford and senior Jordan Nestrud each defeating their respective No. 1 and No. 2 opponent.  Senior Vuk Milicevic and freshman Jamie Firth were also winners at No. 3 and No. 5 singles, respectively.

The Panthers' Matyas Hilgert and Drew Grimaldi lost at No. 4 and No. 6, however.

Both the men and women see action on Sunday with the EIU women playing at IPFW at 7 am, followed by a noon contest between IPFW and Eastern on the men's side.

Following this weekend, the men travel to Northern Illinois on Jan. 20, followed by matches against South Dakota State and at Marquette up in Milwaukee on Jan. 21-22.  The Panther women will head to Cedar Falls, Iowa for bouts against South Dakota State and the host Panthers of Northern Iowa.

EIU Men - 5, Dayton - 2
1. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) def. Rohana - 6-0, 6-0
2. Jordan Nestrud (EIU) def. Sherman - 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Vuk Milicevic (EIU) def. Warnock -  6-4, 6-2
4. Peyton def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) - 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
5. Jamie Firth (EIU) def. Koscielski - 4-6, 7-6, 10-3
6. Wiegand def. Drew Grimaldi (EIU) - 6-4, 6-4

1. Nestrud/Milicevic (EIU) def. Rohana/Peyton - 8-5
2. Rutherford/Hilgert (EIU) def. Sherman/Koscielski - 8-5
3. Warnock/Wiegand def. Firth/Grimaldi (EIU) - 8-2

EIU Men - 7, Robert Morris Men - 0
1. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) def. Lean Curley - 6-1, 6-0
2. Vuk Milicevic (EIU) def. Neves - 6-1, 6-3
3. Jordan Nestrud (EIU) def. Pinto - 6-5, 6-4
4. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) def. Cameron - 6-3, 6-4
5. Jamie Firth (EIU) def. Becker - 6-2, 6-1
6. Drew Grimaldi (EIU) def. Haas - 6-0, 6-1

1. Nestrud/Milicevic (EIU) def. Curley/Neves - 8-4
2. Rutherford/Hilgert (EIU) def. Pinto/Becker - 8-1
3. Firth/Grimaldi (EIU) def. Haas/Camercon - 8-6

EIU Women - 7, Robert Morris Women - 0
1. Cara Huck (EIU) def. Shaw - 6-0, 6-0
2. Amanda Dibbs (EIU) def. Rudneva - 6-0, 6-0
3. Hayley Homburg (EIu) def. Olavsson - 6-2, 6-2
4. Juliana Frey (EIU) def. Meier - 6-0, 6-2
5. Annie Egan (EIU) def. Dalphon - 6-1, 6-0
6. Shannon Brooks (EIU) def. Himmel - 6-0, 6-0

1. Dibbs/Homburg (EIU) def. Deforue/Shaw - 8-1
2. Huck/Frey (EIU) def. Olavsson/Rudneva - 8-1
3. Egan/Brooks (EIU) def. Meier/Daphon - 8-1

All matches played at the Pine Ridge Racquet and Fitness Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID