CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis will finish up the road portion of the Ohio Valley Conference slate this coming weekend as the Panthers travel to Austin Peay and Murray State for respective Saturday (March 29) and Sunday (March 30) dual meets.
First serves at APSU are set for 10 a.m./1 p.m., for the women and men, respectively, while a 10 a.m. start is slated for the MUR matchup the next morning.
The Panther men enter with a 5-6 overall mark and an even 2-2 record in OVC action as EIU recently split their home openers last weekend versus Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State, topping the Golden Eagles but falling to the Gamecocks by the same 5-2 result.
The Eastern women, however, earned their first league win, downing perennial power Jacksonville State, 5-2, last weekend to move to 7-2 overall and 1-2 in OVC play.
QUOTING COACHES JOHN BLACKBURN & ERIC STARK
"We look forward to this weekend," said associate tennis director/men's head coach Eric Stark. "The guys have had a good week of practice and they are hungry to play two good OVC opponents. I am really looking forward to see how they respond on Saturday. I think doubles will be key to see what kind of energy we can exhibit."
QUICK SET ON THE PANTHERS
Sophomore Robert Skolik continues to pace the Panther men with a 7-3 singles mark, which including a 6-3 record at the No. 4 spot. Unfortunately he had his recent five-match win streak snapped last weekend.
Senior Kevin Bauman follows at 7-4 overall, splitting time between the No. 5 and No. 6 spots in the lineup, as he is ties Skolik with a 3-1 conference record.
In men's doubles, sophomores Ryan Henderson and Rui Silva have won three straight at the No. 2 duo spot to sit at 8-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in OVC action.
For the women, sophomore Ali Foster leads the way with an impressive 8-1 tally at No. 4 singles. Sophomore Hannah Kimbrough follows at 5-3 on the year, as she has played at both No. 5 and No. 6 in the lineup while owning a 2-0 OVC rank.
The team of Prisner and Boulbahaiem cotninue to lead in doubles match with 7-1 duo tally at the top of the Panther lineup.
A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND COMPETITION
The men of Austin Peay enter at 7-4 overall and sit alone in third place in the OVC standings at 2-1. The Racer gents are just 2-8 on the year and tie for 7th in league play at 1-2.
The Lady Govs of APSU are 5-8 overall and an even 2-2 in league action to sit in fifth place. The Murray State women own a perfect 4-0 tally in OVC action, ranking in second place with a 9-4 overall mark.
LOOKING AHEAD
Both Panther units will entertain instate league rival SIU Edwardsville in mid-week action as EIU will host the Cougars at 11 a.m. next Thursday (April 3) at the Charleston HS Courts.
Then the Panther women will host UT Martin and Southeast Missouri the following Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID
