CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Winning every single and double match on the day, Eastern Illinois men's tennis blanked visiting Kaskaskia College, 7-0, on Tuesday afternoon to improve to 2-8 on the season. The match was the first outdoor action by the Panther squad as EIU opened home play at their own Rex Darling Courts.

After taking all three duo matchups the Panthers also easily won each singles bout in straight sets and more importantly helped snap a seven-match losing streak in the process.

"It was a nice way to begin outside competition," said sixth-year head coach John Blackburn.  "As a team we really concentrated on our foot speed and getting a feel for how differently the ball tends to play outside as compared to our more recent action inside."

Sophomore Michael Sperry, juniors Matyas Hilgert and Jamie Firth, and freshman Kevin Bauman each won by identical 6-0, 6-0 scores at No. 1, No. 2, no. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

The Panthers will no prepare for the start of Ohio Valley Conference action, when they hit the road for three consecutive matches. Starting on Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20, EIU will travel to Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, before facing Jacksonville State the following Wednesday on March 23.

The previously scheduled home dual meet versus Chicago State set for this Thursday (March 10), has already been postponed due to forthcoming inclement weather in the East Central Illinois area. The two teams hope to reschedule the dual for sometime later in March.

Eastern Illinois 7, Kaskaskia College 0
March 8, 2011 at Charleston, Ill.
(Rex Darling Courts)

Singles
1. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Anthony Hallam (KC) - 6-0, 6-0
2. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) def. Sam Murphy (KC) - 6-0, 6-0
3. Warren Race (EIU) def. Taylor Powless (KC) - 6-0, 6-2
4. Jamie Firth (EIU) def. Eric Smith (KC) - 6-0, 6-0
5. Charlie Dryden (EIU) def. Kaleb Bone (KC) - 6-2, 6-1
6. Kevin Bauman (EIU) def. Tyler Knox (KC) - 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Hilgert/Firth (EIU) def. Murphy/Powless (KC) - 8-2
2. Race/Bauman (EIU) def. Smith/Bone (KC) - 8-0
3. Sperry/Dryden (EIU) def. Hallam/Knox (KC) - 8-1

Match Notes: Eastern Illinois 2-8; Kaskaskia College (N/A)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,4,6,1,5)

Home opener for the EIU Panthers at the Rex Darling Courts
T-1:45 A-38

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