The men’s tennis team lost seven matches in a row, including their last match against the Bradley University Braves Wednesday by a score of 1-6.

“I guess we led up just a little bit and were not focusing,” said sophomore Warren Race.

Freshman Kevin Bauman won its match by scores of 6-4, 0-6 and 10-7. Bauman was the only singles player to win a match against Bradley.

Only one doubles team won their match against Bradley as the team of Bauman and Race won their match 8-5.

The men’s tennis team also lost to Marquette University 0-7 and lost to the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay 1-6 in Milwaukee Sunday.

For all the matches in singles and doubles, the Eastern men lost to the Marquette University Golden Eagles.

Against the Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix, Bauman was again the only winner for the Panthers, as he won by scores of 6-1, 6-3.

“We are going to have to play more practice matches,” Race said. “We are working on match toughness and playing more sets.”

For the season, the Panthers are now 1-8 overall.

Their first home match will be against Kaskaskia College at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rex Darling Courts at Eastern.

The women’s tennis team is looking to break their three-match losing streak when they face the Bradley Braves today.

Last time the Panthers faced the Braves, they beat them 4-3 in 2008.

“They were a pretty solid team the last time we played them, it’s not going to be an easy match for our schedule,” said junior Amanda Dibbs. “I expect to play well, play strong, and not hold back.”

The Panthers’ three losses along the losing streak have come against Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne, Southern Illinois-Carbondale and Illinois State University.

“I think we are going to do well and we have a strong chance of winning,” Dibbs said. “We have been working on getting more depth, been working on doubles, staying more aggressive and staying more confident.”

For the season, the Panther women are 2-3 overall.

Their match starts at 1 p.m. today in Peoria.

Grant Truccano can be reached at 581-7942 or gatruccano@eiu.edu.