TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Eastern Illinois tennis squads earned an Ohio Valley Conference home split with Murray State on Saturday afternoon, as the Panther men clawed past the Racers, 4-3, while the EIU women fell, 5-1.

The win improves the Eastern guys to 5-3 season as they open the league slate with the win.

The Panther women, meanwhile, had their recent four-match win streak snapped to fall to 6-3 overall and an even 1-1 in OVC action.

The EIU gents tied singles play with the Racers as senior Michael Sperry, junior Kevin Bauman and freshman Ryan Henderson each picked up victories at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 6.  Both Sperry and Henderson won in straight sets, while Bauman clawed back from a first set loss to earn the key win.

With the match tied at three-all, doubles play would determine the team victor as EIU captured all three duo matchups to earn the all-important doubles point and the win.

For the women, junior Jennifer Kim would nab the lone singles victory for the Panthers, as no doubles play was completed as the margin of team victory was already determined.

The action was moved indoors to the nearby Wabash Valley Tennis Club in Terre Haute, Ind., as inclement weather has been projected for the entire weekend.

With heavy snow in the mix for most of the day tomorrow, the Panther dual meet versus Austin Peay set for Sunday may or may not take place, depending on travel conditions for teams to meet in Terre Haute.

EIU Men 4, MUR Men 3
Mar 23, 2013 at Terre Haute, Ind.
(Wabash Valley Tennis Club)

Singles
1. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Joao Camara (MUR) - 6-1, 6-0
2. Adam Taylor (MUR) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Tyler Jeffers (MUR) def. Robert Skolik (EIU) - 6-4, 6-2
4. Kevin Bauman (EIU) def. Ryan Kennedy (MUR) - 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
5. Max McLean (MUR) def. Rui Silva (EIU) - 6-1, 6-1
6. Ryan Henderson (EIU) def. Nik Mitric (MUR) - 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
1. Sperry/Race (EIU) def. Taylor/Kennedy (MUR) - 8-3
2. Skolik/Bauman (EIU) def. Jeffers/Camara (MUR) - 8-3
3. Henderson/Silva (EIU) def. Aleks Mitric/McLean (MUR) - 8-5

Match Notes:
Murray State ... 0-12 (0-3 OVC)
Eastern Illinois ... 5-3 (1-0 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

......

MUR Women 5, EIU Women 1
Mar 23, 2013 at Terre Haute, Ind.
(Wabash Valley Tennis Club)

Singles
1. Ashley Canty (MUR) def. Janelle Prisner (EIU) - 6-4, 7-6
2. Carla Suga (MUR) def. Sephora Boulbahaiem (EIU) - 6-2, 6-2
3. Megan Blue (MUR) def. Merritt Whitley (EIU) - 7-5, 7-5
4. Erin Patton (MUR) def. Ali Foster (EIU) - 6-2, 7-6
5. Jennifer Kim (EIU) def. Carolyn Huerth (MUR) - 6-0, 6-4
6. Suzaan Stoltz (MURW) def. Kristen Laird (EIU) - 8-5

Doubles
... No doubles matches played

Match Notes:
Murray State ... 5-7 (2-1 OVC)
Eastern Illinois ... 6-3 (1-1 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

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