The Eastern men’s tennis team shutout an opponent for the first time since last April with a 7-0 sweep over North Central College this weekend.

Eastern picked up its third win of the season and ran its winning streak up to two.

The Panthers claimed the doubles point winning all three doubles matches. Junior Victor Krueger and senior Adam Winters for North Central faced off against Eastern senior Jared Woodson and sophomore Gage Kingsmith, with Eastern winning 8-5.

Senior Grant Reiman and freshman Logan Charbonneau picked up an 8-0 win playing at No. 3 doubles over Cardinals players, Tyler Haizel and Tyler Bussell.

In singles action, the Panthers won five of the six matches in straight sets. Reiman had the most decisive victory with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Adan Winters at No. 2 singles.

Freddie O’Brien won at No. 1 singles, giving him a 7-2 record in spring play.

Charbonneau picked up his first win in singles play of the spring schedule, with a No. 3 singles win.

Senior Trent Reiman won at No. 4 singles giving him two wins this spring, and sophomore Braden Davis won at No. 6 singles in straight sets, securing his third win of the spring.

Charbonneau said against North Central he did well with his volleys at the net and with conference play starting soon, he said his aggressiveness and getting on offense and executing will need some work.

Sophomore Gage Kingsmith won the third set tie breaker at No. 5 singles over Lucas Pindak, picking up a 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (3) win.

For Kingsmith, that marked his second win of the spring schedule.

Eastern coach Sam Kercheval compared this match to Saint Francis, but he said Eastern was put to the test.

“The guys were challenged against North Central to really control how they did everything in regards to their match; how they walked, carried themselves, the energy they showed and of course their play,” Kercheval said. “It was a similar match to St. Francis and we saw the step we needed.”

Eastern improved to 3-7 with the win and North Central dropped to 2-5.

Eastern faced Southern Utah to wrap up the weekend, but did not have the same results this time around.

Southern Utah snapped Eastern’s two match win streak as the Thunderbirds picked up a 4-0 neutral court win.

The match included three unfinished singles matches and one unfinished doubles match.  Southern Utah won the doubles point, winning at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Eastern was leading the No. 3 doubles match 5-4 when Southern Utah clinched the point.  Logan Charbonneau and Grant Reiman played at No. 3 singles for Eastern.

Freddie O’Brien was leading at No. 1 singles when Southern Utah won the match. O’Brien was leading 6-4, 3-2 over Conor Tordoff.

Southern Utah won at No. 2 singles, No. 4 singles and No. 5 singles to seal the victory.

Jared Woodson was tied 4-4 in the second set at No. 6 singles when his match was left unfinished.  Charbonneau was down in the second set at No. 3 singles when his was left incomplete.

In this match, Kercheval said the team could not find a rhythm and Southern Utah was a very solid team.

“We just didn’t stay out on the court long enough to really give ourselves a chance,” he said. “We had some guys battling and fighting in their matches, but as a team it went too quickly and we couldn’t change the momentum to our favor. But, we are still learning how to compete the way we need regardless of the opponent and their level.”

Eastern fell to 3-8 on the season, but return home to Darling Courts Sunday against Lindenwood.

Vince Lovergine can be reached at 581-2812 or vplovergine@eiu.edu