JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- The Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis squads dropped their respective Ohio Valley Conference matches at Jacksonville State on Wednesday afternoon, with the men losing, 7-0, while the women dropped a close 4-3 contest.

The losses move the Panther men to 2-10 overall and 1-2 in league play, while the Eastern women fall to 5-4 on the season and an even 1-1 in conference.

Junior Matyas Hilgert gave his JSU opponent all he could handle at the No. 2 singles spot, while the remainder of the Panther lineup fell in straight sets.

On the women's side, the Panthers picked up the all-important doubles point after taking two of the three duo matchups. The twosomes of Amanda Dibbs/Janelle Prisner and Shannon Brooks/Jennifer Kim won at No. 2 and No. 3 with scores of 8-4 and 8-5, respectively.

Unfortunately EIU could only manage to pick up two more wins in singles play as the host Gamecock squad scratched back to earn the tight match. Brooks and Annie Egan picked up crucial wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles spots with Brooks winning in consecutive sets and Egan battling back from a first-set loss to earn the win via 7-6 and 6-4 scores.

The Panthers return home this weekend and will entertain both Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State in home league openers on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. First serve for each match is scheduled for 11 am at EIU's own Rex Darling Courts.

JSU Men 7, EIU Men 0
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
JSU Tennis Courts in Jacksonville, Ala.

Singles
1. Brian Kenyon (JSU) def. Michael Sperry (EIU) - 6-2, 6-0
2. Axel Sundberg (JSU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) - 5-7, 7-5, 10-4
3. Nenad Marcec (JSU) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 6-1, 6-3
4. Igor Santos (JSU) def. Jamie Firth (EIU) - 6-4, 6-2
5. Gustavo Holz (JSU) def. Kevin Bauman (EIU) - 6-3, 6-3
6. Felipe Watanabe (JSU) def. Charlie Dryden (EIU) - 7-6, 6-3

Doubles
1. Holz/Kenyon (JSU) def. Dryden/Sperry (EIU) - 8-5
2. Marcec/Sundberg (JSU) def. Firth/Hilgert (EIU) - 8-4
3. Santos/Watanabe (JSU) def. Bauman/Race (EIU) - 8-2

Match Notes: EIU – 2-10 (1-2 OVC); JSU – 7-7 (2-1 OVC)
Ohio Valley Conference match 


JSU Women 4, EIU Women 3
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
JSU Tennis Courts in Jacksonville, Ala.

Singles
1. Marani Vivane (JSU) def. Janelle Prisner (EIU) - 6-4, 6-3
2. Martina Dessbesell (JSU) def. Merritt Whitley (EIU) - 7-5, 6-4
3. Raisa Guasti (JSU) def. Jennifer Kim (EIU) - 6-3, 6-2
4. Shannon Brooks (EIU) def. Ralphaela Lima (JSU) - 6-3, 6-2
5. Juliana Renesto (JSU) def. Amanda Dibbs (EIU) - 6-3, 7-5
6. Annie Egan (EIU) def. Rafaela Wenzel (JSU) - 0-6, 7-6, 6-4

Doubles
1. Dessbesell/Vivane (JSU) def. Cara Huck/Whitley (EIU) - 8-4
2. Dibbs/Prisner (EIU) def. Guasti/Lima (JSU) - 8-4
3. Brooks/Kim (EIU) def. Renesto/Wenzel (JSU) - 8-5

Match Notes: EIU – 5-4 (1-1 OVC); JSU –5-8 (2-0 OVC)
Ohio Valley Conference match

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