CHARLESTON, Ill.- In his final match as a Panther, senior Jeff Rutherford went out with a bang, but his effort wasn't enough for a win as the men dropped a tough 4-3 decision, and the women fell 7-0 to Austin Peay State University in the regular season finale on Sunday.
The senior dominated all day long and won his final singles match in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 and his final doubles match with partner Justin Haag 8-3.
At No. 5 singles on the men's side, sophomore Matyas Hilgert lost a hard-fought match to Austin Peay's Renan Bezerra 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). The match sealed a 4-3 win for the Governors (3-4, 7-5 Ohio Valley Conference).
Freshman Michael Sperry defeated his No. 6 singles opponent in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 to pick up the other singles win for EIU.
The Panther men (1-6, 4-15 OVC) were able to squeak out wins in No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, sealing the doubles point. Hilgert and Sperry picked up an 8-6 win at the No. 2 spot and Jamie Firth and Warren Race defeated their No. 3 doubles opponent 8-6.
The EIU women (6-12, 3-6 OVC) lost all six singles matches and all three doubles matches to Austin Peay (16-3, 8-1 OVC). Cara Huck and Annie Egan were able to push their singles opponents to three sets but couldn't salvage a victory.
Both the men's and women's team will not play in the OVC Championship to be held in Paducah, Ky. on April 16-18.
Match Notes: Today, the Panthers recognized Jeff Rutherford, the squad's lone senior. He finished with a career singles record of 48-35, was selected First Team All-OVC in 2008 and Second Team All-OVC in 2009. Rutherford picked up 32 career doubles wins and was a two-time team captain.
APSU Men 4, EIU Men 3
Apr 11, 2010 at Rex Darling Tennis Courts
Singles
1. RUTHERFORD, Jeff (EIU) def. BAILEY, Sean (APSU) - 6-1, 6-1
2. LOCATELLI, Leonardo (APSU) def. FIRTH, Jamie (EIU) - 6-3, 6-0
3. NORBIATO, Henrique (APSU) def. RACE, Warren (EIU) - 6-3, 6-4
4. SUBASIC, Amar (APSU) def. HAAG, Justin (EIU) - 6-2, 7-5
5. BEZERRA, Renan (APSU) def. HILGERT, Matyas (EIU) - 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
6. SPERRY, Michael (EIU) def. STORIE, John (APSU) - 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. HAAG/RUTHERFORD (EIU) def. BAILEY/NORBIALO (APSU) - 8-3
2. HILGERT/SPERRY (EIU) def. BEZERRA/SUBASIC (APSU) - 8-6
3. FIRTH/RACE (EIU) def. LOCATELLI/STORIE (APSU) - 8-6
…………..
APSU Women 7, EIU Women 0
Apr 11, 2010 at Rex Darling Tennis Courts
Singles
1. TOMIC, Vanja (APSU) def. #DIBBS, Amanda# (EIU) - 6-3, 6-4
2. WEIKARD, Carolin (APSU) def. HUCK, Cara (EIU) - 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
3. PAGAN, Mariana (APSU) def. #BROOKS, Shannon# (EIU) - 6-1, 6-1
4. LIEW, Michelle (APSU) def. #WHTILEY, Merritt# (EIU) - 6-2, 6-3
5. GEORGAKOPOULOS, Demi (APSU) def. EGAN, Annie (EIU) - 6-3, 3-6, 10-3
6. NAKAMURA, Yuki (APSU) def. #LAIRD, Kristen# (EIU) - 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. TOMIC/PAGAN (APSU) def. DIBBS/WHITLEY (EIU) - 8-3
2. WEIKARD/NAKAMURA (APSU) def. HUCK/EGAN (EIU) - 8-2
3. LIEW/GEORGIAKOPOLUS (APSU) def. LAIRD/BROOKS (EIU) - 8-3
