The men’s tennis team lost its second straight match against the Saint Louis University Billikens on Saturday.

The Panthers took the crucial doubles point winning two of the three matches, before losing 4-3.

Last year, the Panthers only won one doubles point in the entire season.

Seniors Robert Skolik and Rui Silva won their match 6-4 over the Billikens Juan Calero and John Nogalski.

Sophomores Trent and Grant Reiman defeated SLU’s Oscar Pachon and Paarth Dodhiawala 6-1.

Senior Ryan Henderson and freshman Ognjen Jevtic lost 5-3 to Charlie Parry and David Ferragut.

“We won the doubles point which is a great step because that has been an area that I immediately addressed in the fall and we have worked on.’’ Head coach Sam Kercheval said. “Certainly winning the doubles point gave us the chance to win the match overall.”

Ryan Henderson came away with a singles victory over SLU’s Juan Calero 6-1, 6-4.

Trent Reiman took his match to three sets but lost to Miguel Flores 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Jevtic also took his match to three sets and came away with a victory over Dodhiawala 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; this was Jevtic’s first victory as a Panther.

Skolik, at the number one spot, lost 6-0, 6-3 to Ferragut. Grant Reiman lost to Parry 6-3, 6-2. Silva had a close match but lost 6-4, 7-6.

“Trent and Ognjen went to three sets, and Rui played two really close sets as well.’’ Kercheval said. “All of them had moments where we played well, confidently and had the momentum in our favor.’’

This match was close compared to the one against Ball State where the Panthers only got one point off a singles victory from Silva.

“We had a great, focused week of practice and it showed. The things we worked on all week definitely came through,” Kercheval said.

Next up for the Panthers is a double-header on Saturday against Wright State and Northern Illinois at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Tyler McCluskey can be reached at 581-2812 or at densportsdesk@gmail.com