Horizon League play begins for EIU men’s tennis

Eastern Illinois (4-6) week schedule
Saturday – March 18 vs. Southern Indiana (3-8) … 1 p.m
Sunday – March 19 vs. Tennessee Tech (0-10) … 12 p.m
(matches at Danville Tennis Center)

Eastern Illinois men’s tennis opens Horizon League play this weekend as the Panthers take on both Southern Indiana and Tennessee Tech. Due to expected weather issues, matches have been moved indoors at the Danville Tennis Center.

EIU is 4-6 on the season after one game last week against Chicago State.

This season, the remaining Ohio Valley Conference men’s tennis members play as affiliate members of the Horizon League, with membership divided into North and South divisions based on conference membership. OVC schools play in the South Division, while Horizon League schools play in the North Division. The top three in each division will then advance to the Horizon League tournament on the 28th-30th. April in Ann Arbor, Michigan to play for the NCAA’s automatic bid.

Belmont (a member of the professional OVC in men’s tennis) was selected first for the South Division, followed by Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State. Eastern Illinois finished fourth, followed by Southern Indiana and Lindenwood.

Cleveland State was selected first in the North Division, followed by Youngtown State. IUPUI and Northern Kentucky were tied for third in the preseason poll, while Chicago State was picked fifth.

The schools will play a home-and-home series with each team in their respective divisions with conference play beginning this weekend.

Thomas Wallace picked up the Panthers’ lone win in their match against Chicago State with a two-run win at No. 5 singles. Wallace is currently tied for Pau Riera led the team in singles play with five. Wallace has posted a 4-2 record this season playing in the No. 5 spot in the order.

In doubles, Chicago State will play Riera and Aleksi Dinkov their match was tied at 4-4 as CSU managed to grab the double point. The tandem is 3-0 in its last five dual meets, with two coming against both Marquette and Chicago State. All five matches were played at No. 2 doubles.

This will be the fourth meeting between EIU and Southern Indiana and the first as conference opponents. EIU leads the all-time series 3-0. EIU and Tennessee Tech will meet for the 24th time. TTU leads the series 22-1.