Conference season is underway for the Eastern men’s tennis team who heads to Eastern Kentucky Friday.

The Panthers have not had the results they would like in conference play this spring, standing at 0-2. But, this match won’t come any easier for the Panthers.

Since 2008, Eastern has had just two victories over the Colonels, with its most recent win coming in 2014 at 5-3. Since then, Eastern has lost three consecutive to Eastern Kentucky.

Last season, the Panthers dropped their match against the Colonels 7-0.

But those results could be different this time around. Coming into last season, Eastern did not win a road match before its match against the Colonels, but currently this spring, the Panthers have won three road matches to this point.

Coming off a winning season a year ago at 16-10, this spring has been the complete opposite for Eastern Kentucky, who stands at 4-13, while riding a four-match losing streak. But, for the Colonels, right now they are 4-3 at home.

This match will mark the first OVC match for Eastern Kentucky for the second straight season against Eastern.

For Eastern this season, sophomore Freddie O’Brien leads the Panthers in wins at the No 1. singles position with eight, followed by sophomore Braden Davis with four wins, and senior Grant Reiman collecting three wins.

In doubles play Eastern has shifted around its line-up several times during the year with 12 different doubles combinations this season. O’Brien and senior Trent Reiman have played together the most consistently with 10 total matches resulting in three wins. The doubles team of sophomore Gage Kingsmith and senior Jared Woodson also posted three wins this season with a 3-3 overall record. For freshman Logan Charbonneau, he has a 2-1 record in doubles play teamed with both senior Grant Reiman and O’Brien.

Senior Ramon van Flymen is leader in wins for Eastern Kentucky, who also has eight wins at the No 1. singles position this spring, while recording a 16-13 overall record. Sophomore Parth Aggarwal has complied seven wins in multiple singles positions, with a 12-17 overall record, while two other players have three wins a piece.

For Charbonneau, coming into the match against Eastern Kentucky, he’s looking forward to having a player coming back.

“I look forward to having Grant back on the court since his sprain has gotten better,” he said. “I’m hoping the team does well in doubles so we can get the doubles point and start off strong.”

For freshman Kaisei Kuroki, during practice, he’s working on a bigger serve and will continue to practice to make this a strength.

In the OVC standing right now, Eastern sits in sixth place, while Austin Peay holds the final spot.

There is a four-way tie for the top spot in the conference, with Jacksonville State, Tennessee State, Belmont and Tennessee Tech all having conference records at 1-0. The standings are rounded out with Eastern Kentucky, who stands in fifth, but have yet to play in a conference match.

The Panthers travel to Richmond, Ky. Friday, with this being the first road conference game for Eastern, starting at 12:30 p.m.

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