CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's and women's tennis dropped respective 6-1 and 7-0 home Ohio Valley Conference matches to visiting Eastern Kentucky on Saturday (April 13).

The Eastern women drop to 11-5 overall and 6-3 in league play, while the Panther guys fall to 7-9 and 2-6. The loss officially eliminates the EIU men from post-season OVC championship contention.

After dropped both doubles points, only senior Michael Sperry would go to pick up the lone singles victory and Panther point as she defeated his EKU opponent in straight sets at the top of the Eastern lineup.

The rest of the Panther men fell in straight sets, while for the women, sophomore Sephora Boulbahaiem and junior Jennifer Kim each pushed their respective No. 2 and No. 5 Colonel opponents to the limit before following in three frames.

With both squads made up entirely of international players, both visiting Eastern Kentucky units improved to 11-12/6-2 and 16-6/9-0, respectively, as the women continue to lead the OVC with a perfect mark.

Both Panther squads will host Morehead State on Sunday in the regular-season home finale, with EIU to honor four seniors -- Kristen Laird, Warren Race, Michael Sperry, Merritt Whitley -- for their contributions to the Eastern tennis programs. First serve for the women is set for 10 a.m., followed by a 2 p.m. start for the men.

EKU Men 6, EIU Men 1
April 13, 2013 in Charleston, Ill.
CHS Tennis Courts

Singles
1. Michael Sperry (EIU) def. Daridge Saidi (EKU) - 6-4, 7-5
2. Juanjo De la Llera (EKU) def. Warren Race (EIU) - 6-2, 6-0
3. Alex Alvaro (EKU) def. Robert Skolik (EIU) - 6-2, 6-1
4. Lucas Smets (EKU) def. Rui Silva (EIU) - 6-0, 6-0
5. Joao Maio (EKU) def. Kevin Bauman (EIU) - 6-2, 6-1
6. Florian Graskamp (EKU) def. Volodymyr Zverkovsky (EIU) - 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. De la Llera/Smets (EKU) def. Sperry/Race (EIU) - 8-3
2. Bauman/Skolik (EIU) vs. Saidi/Alvaro (EKU) - 4-4, unfinished
3. Maio/Jan Dombrowski (EKU) def. Silva/David Constantinescu (EIU) - 8-4

Match Notes:
Eastern Illinois ... 7-9 (2-6 OVC)
Eastern Kentucky ... 11-12 (6-2 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

......

EKU Women 7, EIU Women 0
April 13, 2013 in Charleston, Ill.
CHS Tennis Courts

Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Janelle Prisner (EIU) - 6-2, 6-4
2. Kristina Labeja (EKU) def. Sephora Boulbahaiem (EIU) - 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) def. Merritt Whitley (EIU) - 7-5, 7-5
4. Milena Poffo (EKU) def. Ali Foster (EIU) - 7-6, 6-4
5. Melissa Gerritsen (EKU) def. Jennifer Kim (EIU) - 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
6. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) def. Kristen Laird (EIU) - 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Prisner/Whitley (EIU) vs. Labeja/Gerritsen (EKU) - 7-8, unfinished
2. Oscoz/Poffo (EKU) def. Boulbahaiem/Hannah Kimbrough (EIU) - 8-5
3. Faouzi/Danielle Kinnen (EKU) def. Foster/Laird (EIU) - 8-4

Match Notes:
Eastern Illinois ... 11-5 (6-3 OVC)
Eastern Kentucky ... 16-6 (9-0 OVC)
... Ohio Valley Conference contest

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