CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis opened up home Ohio Valley Conference action versus Austin Peay with a Friday (March 20) afternoon split, as the Panther men dropped a tough 4-3 match, while the EIU women earned a 5-2 victory.

The loss moves the Eastern men to 2-10 overall and an even 1-1 in the league, as the Panther women won their fifth straight matchup to improve to 7-3 and 2-0.

Meanwhile, the visiting Governors and Lady Govs now sport respective 7-4/2-0 and 2-12/0-4 marks.

After picking up the all-important doubles point, the EIU ladies then added four singles wins as Ali Foster and Grace Summers first won at No. 2 and No. 3, while Sephora Boulbahaiem and Kamile Stadalninkaite then won at No. 4 and No. 6 spots in the lineup.  The Panthers won each of the singles matchups in straight sets.

"I was proud of how the team came through in big moments today," said EIU director of tennis/head women's coach John Blackburn.  "Having said that, we definitely have room for improvement, so it will exciting for us to try and compete at an even higher level tomorrow versus the Racers of Murray State."

The guys, meanwhile, found themselves down early after falling in doubles, but battled back in singles with Preston Touliatos and Robert Skolik earning consecutive set wins at No. 3 and No. 1, eventually followed by Rui Silva earning a straight set win at No. 4 to tie the score at 3-3.

Unfortunately Grant Reiman would drop a tough three-set affair at No. 6 singles as APSU held on for the close 4-3 victory.

"We fought incredibly hard today and set ourselves up for success," said associate tennis director/men's head coach Eric Stark.  "Unfortunately, we just came up a bit short, yet this was such a battle that I can't say enough on how hard everyone fought.

"The strides we have made in singles is really starting to pay off," he added.  "I thought the composure we showed was really great, especially from Rob, Preston and Rui.  Austin Peay is one of the top teams in the conference and we had them on the ropes, so there is no doubt we are going to have plenty more opportunities to get the job done next time."

Both Panther units continue their homestand tomorrow, hosting Murray State at the Darling Courts with first serve for the ladies set for 10:30 a.m., followed by the men at approximately 1:30 p.m..

Austin Peay at Eastern Illinois
March 20, 2015 at Charleston, Ill.
(Rex Darling Courts)

APSU Men 4, EIU Men 3

Singles
1. Robert Skolik (EIUM) def. Dimitar Ristovski (APSUM) - 7-6, 6-4
2. Aleksas Tverijonas (APSUM) def. Ryan Henderson (EIUM) - 6-2, 6-3
3. Preston Touliatos (EIUM) def. Aaron Jumonville (APSUM) - 6-3, 7-5
4. Rui Silva (EIUM) def. Iago Seffrin (APSUM) - 6-4, 6-3
5. Manuel Montenegro (APSUM) def. David Constantinescu (EIUM) - 6-2, 6-0
6. Oleg Drobysh (APSUM) def. Grant Reiman (EIUM) - 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
1. Ristovski/Seffrin (APSUM) def. Skolik/Touliatos (EIUM) - 8-3
2. G. Reiman/Constantinescu (EIUM) vs. Tverijonas/Jumonville (APSUM) - 7-4, unfinished
3. Montenegro/Drobysh (APSUM) def. Henderson/Trent Reiman (EIUM) - 8-5

Match Notes:
Austin Peay 7-4 (2-0 OVC)
Eastern Illinois 2-10 (1-1 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3*); Singles (2,3,1,5,4,6*)

......

Austin Peay at Eastern Illinois
March 20, 2015 at Charleston, Ill.
(Rex Darling Courts)

EIU Women 5, APSU Women 2

Singles
1. Ornella Di Salvo (APSUW) def. Kelly Iden (EIUW) - 6-2, 6-1
2. Ali Foster (EIUW) def. Hannah Tatlock (APSUW) - 6-2, 6-0
3. Grace Summers (EIUW) def. Vanessa Tavares (APSUW) - 6-4, 7-5
4. Sephora Boulbahaiem (EIUW) def. Brittney Covington (APSUW) - 6-1, 6-3
5. Isabela Jovanovic (APSUW) def. Hannah Kimbrough (EIUW) - 3-6, 6-0, 10-4
6. Kamile Stadalninkaite (EIUW) def. Jovana Karac (APSUW) - 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Summers/Boulbahaiem (EIUW) def. Di Salvo/Tavares (APSU) - 8-4
2. Foster/Kimbrough (EIUW) def. Tatlock/Karac (APSU) - 8-6
3. Iden/Stadalninkaite (EIUW) vs. Jovanovic/Covington (APSU) - 6-6, unfinished

Match Notes:
Austin Peay 2-12 (0-4 OVC)
Eastern Illinois 7-3 (2-0 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2*) Singles (2,1,3,4*,6,5)

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