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EIU vs. JSU Box Score  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's tennis opened Ohio Valley Conference play on Friday afternoon as the Panthers lost a hard fought match to Jacksonville State, 6-1, on the Darling Courts.
 
EIU fell to 10-11 overall, 0-1 in the OVC.  JSU improved to 8-4 overall, 1-0 in the OVC.
 
Both teams battled back and forth in doubles play with JSU winning the first match at number three doubles 6-1.  EIU evened the doubles results with a win at number two doubles as Freddie O'Brien and Daniel Hernandez picked up a 6-2 win.
 
The doubles point would come down to play at number one doubles as the Gamecocks finished with a 7-6 edge to claim the point.  Aljaz Kaplja and Sergio Lizarraga beat the Panthers tandem of Gertjan De Wilder and Gage Kingsmith.
 
In singles play JSU would win the first three matches at number six, two and three singles to claim the overall match.  The Gamecocks then went up 5-0 with a win at number five singles.
 
Hernandez would secure the lone point of the afternoon for EIU with his win at number four singles.  Hernandez beat Alexander Vishnevskiy in three sets winning 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 10-5.