RICHMOND, Ky. -- Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis lost each of their matches at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday by identical 5-2 scores. The Ohio Valley Conference defeats drop the Panther men and women to 3-11 (0-2) and 4-8 (1-2), respectively.

For the men, lone EIU winners were senior Jeff Rutherford at the top of the singles lineup, as well as freshman Michael Sperry at No. 6 Singles.

On the women's side, the Panthers picked up the important doubles point via the No. 1 and No. 2 duos of Amanda Dibbs/Merritt Whitley and Annie Egan/Cara Huck.

Unfortunately, Eastern only secured one singles win as Egan battled for a 6-1, 5-7, 10-7 win at No. 6 singles.

Both Panther units return to the court on Sunday, traveling to Morehead State for another road OVC contest, as the women are set to begin at 11 am, while the men will compete at 2 pm.

EKU Men 5, EIU Men 2

Singles
1. Jeff Rutherford (EIU) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) - 4-6, 6-1, (11-9)
2. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 6-1, 6-1
3. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) def. Jamie Firth (EIU) - 4-6, 6-4, (10-3)
4. Carles Pons (EKU) def. Justin Haag (EIU) - 6-3, 6-1
5. Philip Janz (EKU) def. Matyas Hilgert (EIU) - 6-0, 6-1
6. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Parul Verma (EKU) - 6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Janz/Schroeder (EKU) def. Haag/Rutherford (EIU) - 8-4
2. Das/Valdenebro (EKU) def. Hilgert/Race (EIU) - 8-6
3. Klientovsky/Pons (EKU) def. Firth/Sperry (EIU) - 8-1

Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky (10-8, 3-0 OVC)
Eastern Illinois (3-11, 0-2 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (2, 5, 4*, 6, 1, 3)


EKU Women 5, EIU Women 2

Singles
1. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) def. Cara Huck (EIU) - 6-1, 6-4
2. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) def. Amanda Dibbs (EIU) - 6-2, 6-4
3. Anouk Faure (EKU) def. Shannon Brooks (EIU) - 6-0, 6-2
4. Alyze Pagal (EKU) def. Merritt Whitley (EIU) - 6-3, 6-4
5. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Juliana Frey (EIU) - 6-3, 6-3
6. Annie Egan (EIU) def. Esmira Gheisary (EKU) - 6-1, 5-7, (10-7)

Doubles
1. Dibbs/Whitley (EIU) def. Faure/Hamel (EKU) - 9-7
2. Egan/Huck (EIU) def. Albuquerque/Pagal (EKU) - 8-5
3. Branco/Mhirit (EKU) def. Brooks/Laird (EIU) - 8-2

Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky (9-11, 4-0 OVC)
Eastern Illinois (4-8, 1-2 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (3, 1, 2, 4*, 5, 6)

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