This spring’s weather has influenced the fate of Eastern’s tennis home schedule.

The men’s tennis team has only completed two of the eight scheduled matches at Darling Courts, with one remaining on the schedule against Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. today.

Seven home matches were originally scheduled for the Panthers. The first two matches scheduled at Darling Courts were moved to Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana because of cracks in the courts’ surface caused by damaging weather conditions.

Eastern’s match against Tennessee State on March 30 was moved indoors to Lantz Fieldhouse because of inclement weather.

When the men’s team finally got an opportunity to play at Darling Courts against Chicago State on April 2, the match was suspended because of darkness. The following weekend, Eastern played two matches at Darling Courts against Samford and Jacksonville State. Eastern (12-8) was supposed to close out its conference schedule at home against Austin Peay on Saturday, but the match was moved to Belleville because of forecasted cold weather.

But today’s forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s with sunny skies and strong winds blowing 20-30 mph. If the forecasts hold true, the men’s match against the Salukis (8-11) will proceed as scheduled.

Eastern junior Jordan Nestrud said the two factors that influence outdoor play are precipitation and temperature. Tennis cannot be played in wet conditions or if the temperature drops too low. If temperatures drop much below 50 degrees, a match will be moved indoors.

Eastern head coach John Blackburn said if there are sustained winds above 20 mph for two hours before the match begins, then it should be moved indoors.

Blackburn also said it depends on how lenient the school is on calling wind conditions.

Nestrud said players simply have to adjust their game for windy weather.

“You pretty much just have to have more margin for error on your shots,” Nestrud said. “It’s more mental than anything else.”

Today’s match against SIU could serve as valuable practice for the men’s team headed into the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Nashville, Tenn. The matches at the OVC Championships are scheduled to be played outdoors, and the Panthers have seldom practiced outside this season.

Wednesday’s match has no bearing on the men’s seeding for the OVC Championships, so the players are looking at it as an opportunity to gain momentum entering postseason play.

“It’s not a conference match, but it’s still a match we want to win,” said senior Chris Thomas.

Nestrud said the Salukis are one of Eastern’s tougher non-conference opponents this year, and this will make the Panthers even better prepared for the OVC Championships.

“This is a perfect match for us, playing against a tough team, getting ready for the hardest part of the season,” Nestrud said.

JC Clark can be reached at 581-7944 or at jrclark2@eiu.edu.