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CHARLESTON, Ill. – On senior day for Eastern Illinois men's tennis, two of the Panthers seniors came up big during doubles play helping EIU secure the doubles point in their Ohio Valley Conference match with Belmont.
 
In singles play the Bruins were able to win five of the six singles matches to post a 5-2 win over EIU at the Darling Tennis Courts.
 
EIU honored seniors Christos Kyrillou and Leighton Brandon prior to the match.  Both would play a big role in doubles action to open the contest.
 
Kyrillou teamed with Thomas Wallace as they won 6-4 at No. 1 doubles to quickly give the Panthers the doubles edge.   Belmont would win at No. 2 doubles by a 7-5 count to even the doubles point.
 
Brandon, playing with freshman Tyler Carlin, then picked up the deciding win for EIU at No. 3 doubles as the pair won 7-5 to put EIU up 1-0 early in the match.
 
In singles action three of the six matches were decided in three sets with a fourth singles match going to a tiebreak in the second set to avoid a three set match.
 
Charles Courteau won his match at No. 4 singles for EIU to post the second point for the Panthers.  Courteau won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 over Diego Castro.
 
Brandon would lose his match at No. 1 singles in three sets falling 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to Arthur Toledo.
 
Wallace would lose his match at No. 6 singles in three sets falling 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to Jack Randall.
 
Kyrillou lost at No. 2 singles to Tomas Luis as he pushed his second set to a tiebreak before losing 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
 
EIU falls to 3-20 on the season, 0-4 in the OVC.  EIU is set to return to action at the OVC Championships in Evansville, Ind., on April 28-30. 
 
Belmont improved to 12-4 overall, 3-0 in the OVC.