NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite picking up the crucial doubles point, the Eastern Illinois men's tennis squad dropped a road Ohio Valley Conference match at Tennessee Tech on Sunday, falling to 2-9 overall following the 6-1 loss to Golden Eagles.

The Panther duos of Michael Sperry/Charlie Dryden and Warren Race/Kevin Bauman scratched past each of their TTU opponents at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to give EIU the early 1-0 lead in the match.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles would counter by capturing each of the singles matches to earn the league win and give the Panthers their first loss in OVC play.

However, Sperry did give his opponent at the top of the lineup all he could handle, falling in a three-set affair.

Meanwhile, Warren Race and Matyas Hilgert each fell in hotly contested matches at No. 2 and No. 3.

The Panther men will rejoin the women's squad when both units travel to Jacksonville, Ala., for a Wednesday morning contest at perennial league power Jacksonville State.  First serve is set for 10 am.

TTU Men 6, EIU Men 1
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tech Courts in Cookeville, Tenn.

Singles
1. Alex Chen (TTU) def. Michael Sperry (EIU) - 6-1, 5-7, 7-5
2. Josh Girling (TTU) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 7-6 (2-0), 6-2
3. Justin Kirstein (TTU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) - 6-3, 7-6 (4-0)
4. Murilo Oliviera (TTU) def. Jamie Firth (EIU) - 6-4, 6-4
5. Vasily Eremeev (TTU) def. Kevin Bauman (EIU) - 6-2, 6-2
6. Arturo Santa Ruiz (TTU) def. Charlie Dryden (EIU) - 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Girling/Kirstein (TTU) def. Hilgert/Firth (EIU) - 8-5
2. Sperry/Dryden (EIU) def. Chen/Oliviera (TTU) - 8-6
3. Race/Bauman (EIU) def. James Crawford/Santa Ruiz (TTU) - 9-8

Match Notes: EIU 2-9 (1-1 OVC); TTU 4-4 (2-0 OVC)
Ohio Valley Conference match
T-3:30 A-48

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