Trojans Fall to EKU

Thursday, March 8

Jacksonville, Fla.

TBA

Troy University

Eastern Kentucky University

Photo by: Tyler Myers

3/9/2012 8:44:00 AM | Tennis (M)

By: Matt Mays

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Troy men's tennis team had its chances, but couldn't convert and fell to Eastern Kentucky on Thursday evening, 4-2, in a neutral court match-up.

The Trojans (2-8) and two-time defending OVC champion Colonels elected to play the doubles point second if it was necessary, and the Trojans nearly made forced the doubles action, but couldn't close out some tight matches.

After falling into a 2-0 hole to the Colonels (9-5) with losses at number one and two singles, the Trojans fought back to tie the score up with wins at number three and four.

Patrick Eichler puts the Trojans on the board first at number four singles with a comeback effort of his own. After dropping the first set 6-0, Eichler fought back to cruise to a three-set, 0-6, 6-1, 6-0 win and make the score 2-1.

Mansingh Athare pulled the Trojans even with another three-set victory at number three singles. Like Eichler, Athare dropped the first set in quick fashion, falling 6-1, but he didn't give in. Athare bounced back to post a 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 win and make the score 2-2.

With just number five singles and number six singles on the court, it seemed as though the Trojans would take a 3-2 lead with Tadju Davies had three match point in the second set of his number six singles match.

However, EKU's Carles Pons fought off all three of Davies opportunities and forced a second-set tiebreaker. Pons eventually won that tiebreaker and the third set and gave EKU the 3-2 lead with a 3-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-1 win.

Playing in his first singles match in over two weeks due to injury, Troy's Jamie Eccleton was unable to tie the score up at 3-3 when he fell at number five singles to EKU's Joao Maio, 6-4, 7-5.

The 4-2 score in EKU's favor made doubles play unnecessary and gave the Colonels their second straight win.

The match was played at North Florida where the Trojans will remain and await a Saturday match-up with the Ospreys. The Troy women's team will also be in Jacksonville, Fla., to take on the Ospreys. Both teams will then take on Jacksonville on Sunday before returning to Troy.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

Eastern Kentucky 4, Troy 2

Singles
1. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) def. Anas Rouchdi (TROY) 6-2, 6-3
2. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) def. Sami Ghorbel (TROY) 6-4, 6-2
3. Mansingh Athare (TROY) def. Philip Janz (EKU) 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
4. Patrick Eichler (TROY) def. Parul Verma (EKU) 0-6, 6-1, 6-0
5. Joao Maio (EKU) def. Jamie Eccleton (TROY) 6-4, 7-5
6. Carles Pons (EKU) def. Tadju Davies (TROY) 3-6, 7-6 (10), 6-1

Doubles
DNP

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (9-5); Troy (2-8)
Order of Finish: Singles (2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5*)