Vuk Milicevic made his first appearance of the season on Sunday, but he was quick to point out the play of the underclassmen.

Milicevic, who finished 10-11 last season and was slowed this season by some bruising in his right wrist, won at No. 4 singles, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Milicevic’s win helped the Panthers to a 5-2 win against Valparaiso in Champaign.

“(The freshmen have) settled in well,” Milicevic said. “It takes a while to get in. The freshmen are adjusting, and they have to keep doing what they are doing and winning will take care of itself, so only time will tell if they are getting on the right track.”

Three of Eastern’s five singles victories came from underclassmen and the other underclassman lost in three sets.

Sophomore Jeff Rutherford won at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Freshman Robert Stedman won at No. 2 singes, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. Junior Jordan Nestrud won at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-3. Freshman Felipe Gama won at No. 6 singles 6-3, 6-2. The only Panther to lose was freshman Benn Marler. Marler lost at No. 5 singles in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 2-6.

Senior Chris Thomas also recognized the play of the freshmen, including Stedman and Marler.

“Both played great,” Thomas said. “(Marler) had another three-set win. He’s a fighter and a rebel, and is an important guy to our team. They both are playing at good levels, so they are important guys like everyone else.”

Marler (1-4) has lost three matches in three sets this season.

The team did not pick up the doubles point against Valparaiso (0-4), but did have several victories in the singles matches.

“Singles was a key today,” Thomas said. “We lost the doubles point, but everyone came out and got excited, and that’s how we won our singles matches.”

The Panthers (2-3) lost at Saint Louis on Friday, 4-3.

“This weekend was definitely better than last because this weekend we played for the big points better, and we fought,” Thomas said. “We had a lot of fighters on the team, so that helped pick up the big points today.”

Stedman and Thomas won at No. 1 doubles, 8-3, and Rutherford and Marler won at No. 3 doubles, 8-2.

“It’s extremely important (to pick up the doubles point), if you can win that you’ll go into the singles more positively,” Milicevic said. “We know we have to get the doubles point, build off that and take that into the singles points.”

The Panthers could not pick up enough singles points against Saint Louis (3-3) on Friday.

Nestrud won at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-3, and Stedman won at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, 6-3.

“It’s hard to say (who stepped up the most) because some guys played well,” Milicevic said. “(Jordan) Nestrud won both of his matches on Friday and today he played well, so it’s something he can take a lot of positives (from).”

The Panthers return to action against Indiana State at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Terre Haute, Ind.

Ross Meister can be reached at 581-7944 or at rwmeister@eiu.edu.