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NASHVILLE -- Eastern Illinois men's tennis fell at Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont, 6-1, on Tuesday (March 31) afternoon at the Centennial Tennis Sportsplex in Nashville, Tenn.

The loss drops the Panthers to 3-12 overall and 2-3 in league action, while the Bruins improved to 8-8 and 3-3 with the victory.  The contest was postponed previously due to the lingering late winter weather this spring season.

After dropping the all-important doubles point, newcomer Grant Reiman would secure the lone singles win for the Panthers as he hit past his No. 6 opponent in straight sets.  Unfortunately the rest of the Eastern singles lineup fell in straight sets as well.

Classmate Preston Touliatos lost his first league singles match of the year with a tough 7-5 first set loss, followed by a 6-1 defeat, at the No. 3 spot.  Junior Rui Silva also pushed his No. 4 opponent to the limit in the opening frame, but fell by a 7-6 score, before dropping a tough 6-0 second set decision.

Both No. 1 and No. 3 doubles went nearly to the wire, as the EIU duo of Skolik and Touliatos fell at the top of the lineup by an 8-6 score.  Reiman joined his twin brother Trent Reiman at No. 3, falling by a close 8-5 score as well.

The EIU guys will now travel to Tennessee Tech for a 1 p.m. Thursday (April 1) league matchup.  The contest has been moved up a couple of days due to the threat of rain on the originally scheduled Friday date.  The Panthers will then join the Eastern women for a road dual at Jacksonville State this Saturday (April 4).  That contest will be the final regular-season road match of the spring campaign.

EIU Men at BEL Men
March 31, 2015 at Nashville, Tenn.
(Centennial Sportsplex)

Belmont 6, Eastern Illinois 1

Singles
1. Mauricio Antun (BELM) def. Robert Skolik (EIUM) - 6-4, 6-3
2. Marko Lovrinovic (BELM) def. Ryan Henderson (EIUM) - 6-7, 4-2, retired
3. Cedric Dujacquier (BELM) def. Preston Touliatos (EIUM) - 7-5, 6-1
4. Robin Dermasse (BELM) def. Rui Silva (EIUM) - 7-6, 6-0
5. Bruno Russo (BELM) def. Trent Reiman (EIUM) - 6-1, 6-2
6. Grant Reiman (EIUM) def. Geoff Tulloch (BELM) - 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
1. Antun/Lovrinovic (BELM) def. Skolik/Touliatos (EIUM) - 8-6
2. Henderson/Silva (EIUM) vs. Dujacquier/Caio Niel (BELM) - 6-7, unfinished
3. Demasse/Russo (BELM) def. G. Reiman/T. Reiman (EIUM) - 8-5

Match Notes:
Eastern Illinois 3-12 (2-3 OVC)
Belmont 8-8 (3-3 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

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

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