PEORIA, Ill. --  Despite sweeping all three doubles matchups, Eastern Illinois men's tennis fell at Bradley off a close 5-2 match between the two instate rivals.  The loss drops the Panthers to 0-6 overall on the early spring season.

EIU earned the all-important doubles point thanks to 8-3, 8-7 (7-2) and 8-5 wins at No. 1 thru No. 3 duos.  That gave the Panthers the early 1-0 lead in the match.

Unfortunately only Jamie Firth would earn the lone singles victory for Eastern as he gutted out a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win over his BU opponent at No. 4 action.

However, Michael Sperry, Warren Race and Matyas Hilgert all pushed their respective Braves opponent to the limit, but ultimately fell in three sets at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the lineup.  That included tough 7-5 third sets losses by Sperry and Race.

The Panthers will have a couple of weeks to prepare for the team's home opener versus Saint Francis (Ill.) on Thursday, March 22, with a 3 p.m. start at EIU's Rex Darling Courts.

Eastern Illinois at Bradley
Wed., March 7, 2012 in Peoria, Ill.
(Markin Tennis Center)

BU Men 5, EIU Men 2
Singles
1. Gabriel Townes (BU) def. Michael Sperry (EIU) - 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5
2. Juan Diego Cuadrado (BU) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
3. Arthur Romanet (BU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) - 3-6, 6-3, 4-2 ... retired
4. Jamie Firth (EIU) def. Michael Davis (BU) - 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
5. Justin Abrams (BU) def. Volodymyr Zverkovsky (EIU) - 6-2, 6-2
6. Kevin Keiner (BU) def. David Constantinescu (EIU) - 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Hilgert/Sperry (EIU) def. Abrams/Cuadrado (BU) - 8-3
2. Constantinescu/Firth (EIU) def. Romanet/Townes (BU) - 8-7 (7-2)
3. Bauman/Race (EIU) def. Davis/Eric Nguyen (BU) - 8-5

Match Notes:  Bradley (6-8); EIU (0-6)

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