NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Eastern Kentucky Colonels avenged a
regular season loss to Tennessee Tech Sunday with a 4-1 win in the
OVC Men's Tennis Tournament Championship. The loss snapped an
11-match win streak by the Golden Eagles.
Tech finishes the season with an 11-8 overall record after
starting 1-7. The Golden Eagles were 8-0 in the OVC regular season.
EKU improved to 19-9 and earned the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA
Tournament.
It was a monumental battle between the two teams. After the
doubles point was determined with a classic fight in the No. 1
position, four of the six singles matches went to three sets,
including a pair of contests that went unfinished.
The Colonels got a jump by claiming the first win when Phil Janz
and Nik Schroeder posted an 8-3 win over Artem Tarasov and Vasily
Eremeev at No. 2 doubles. Tech tied the doubles play with an 8-6
win at No. 3 as Justin Kirstein and Alejandro Augusto topped Pavul
Verma and Jan Dombrowski.
That put the doubles point on the line in the No. 1 court. Syrym
Abdukhalikov and Alex Chen fought toe-to-toe with Carles Pons and
Hugo Kleintovsky before the EKU duo emerged with a 9-7 victory. It
gave Eastern Kentucky a 1-0 lead in the championship match.
Kleintovksy and Abdukhalikov went at it in the No. 1 spot, each
winning a quick set. Abdukhalikov got the first set, 6-4, but
Kleintovsky came back to get the second, 6-3. The EKU leader pulled
out the third set, 6-3, and the Colonels were up 2-0.
While players in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots battled into a third
set, each squad claimed a straight set victory at lower position.
In the No. 4 rung, Verma bested Tarasov, 6-3, 6-3, and the Colonel
lead grew to 3-0.
Kirstein gave Tech a ray of hope with a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5
singles over Joao Maio to make it a 3-1 lead.
The match ended when Emilio Piriz outlasted Eremeev, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2,
at the No. 6 spot to make it 4-1.
April 22, 2012
Eastern Kentucky tops Tech to capture OVC Tournament title
April 19, 2012
Doyle OVC Coach of the Year, Two Golden Eagles named all-OVC
March 30, 2012
Golden Eagles on the road this weekend for two OVC matches
March 28, 2012
Tech freshman Augusto named OVC Tennis co-Player of the Week
March 28, 2012
Golden Eagles blank Racers in mid-week OVC match
March 25, 2012
Golden Eagles sweep weekend, top Morehead State Sunday, 5-2
March 23, 2012
Getting to know: Golden Eagle tennis player Vasily Eremeev
March 17, 2012
Golden Eagle tennis team claims 4-3 victory at UNC Asheville
March 14, 2012
Tech drops 6-1 match to future OVC foe Belmont
February 26, 2012
Golden Eagles tripped by East Tennessee, 6-1
February 18, 2012
Louisville claims 6-1 match over Golden Eagles
February 18, 2012
Golden Eagles head to Louisville to face No. 35 ranked Cardinals
February 9, 2012
Tech’s Tennis dual against Gardner-Webb postponed
February 3, 2012
Golden Eagle Tennis picked to finish third in Preseason OVC Poll
February 3, 2012
Elon Phoenix sweeps Golden Eagle tennis team, 7-0
February 2, 2012
Golden Eagles tennis takes on Elon Friday
January 28, 2012
Golden Eagles nab first win of season, topping UNCG 4-3 in Memphis
January 27, 2012
Tech opens weekend with 6-1 loss at No. 46 Memphis
January 26, 2012
Golden Eagle tennis to take on Memphis, UNC Greensboro this weekend
January 22, 2012
Tennis team drops dual match with Chattanooga, 6-1
January 21, 2012
Tech netters open season with 6-1 loss to ranked Radford
January 16, 2012
Golden Eagles open 2012 tennis schedule this weekend
October 21, 2011
A trio of Golden Eagles advance in the Ohio Valley Region
October 21, 2011
Golden Eagles continue play in Ohio Valley Regionals
October 19, 2011
Six Golden Eagles to compete at USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Region
October 4, 2011
Golden Eagles wrap up play at the ITA All-American Championships
October 2, 2011
Chen goes 1-1 at ITA All-America Championships
September 30, 2011
Two Golden Egales playing at ITA Championships in Tulsa
September 25, 2011
Eremeev, Kirstein wrap up Southern Invitational
September 24, 2011
Kirstein advances to round of 32 at Southern Intercollegiates
September 24, 2011
Kirstein advanaces to Southern Invitational quaterfinals
September 21, 2011
Four Golden Eagles to compete in Southern Intercollegiate tourney
September 18, 2011
Abdukhailikov and Chen win Goodfriend Doubles Draw
September 17, 2011
TTU doubles pairings advance to finals of Tennessee Fall Tournament
September 16, 2011
Undefeated Eremeev paces Tech on first day at Tennessee Invitational
September 14, 2011
Golden Eagle tennis team kicks off fall season at UT Tournament