In its final Ohio Valley Conference match of the spring season, the Eastern men’s tennis team came up short losing at Austin Peay 5-2.

The Panthers fell to 5-16 overall and 1-5 in the OVC standings, but they still have a tournament spot locked up despite the loss. Austin Peay improved to 2-15 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.

The tandem of sophomore Gage Kingsmith and senior Jared Woodson teamed up at the No. 1 doubles against the Governors, but lost to Ozelis and Drobysh 6-3. 

Eastern won 6-3 at No. 3 doubles with senior Grant Reiman and freshman Logan Charbonneau winning their second straight match in doubles and fifth match all together. Austin Peay would then win 6-4 at No. 2 doubles against sophomore Freddie O’Brien and senior Trent Reiman to take the point.

For Charbonneau, teaming up with Grant  Reiman is all about knowing each other. 

“I feel like a good thing Grant and I have going is knowing what we’re good at and sticking to it,” Charbonneau said. “For example, he’s been an animal at the net and we get a lot of points that way so we know it’s a good thing for him to be as aggressive as he wants up there.”

Charbonneau added that he wants to work on his mentality and keeping positive thoughts throughout competition play in practice. 

The Governors won the match winning in the middle of the line-up in singles play, as Austin Peay secured points at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles to clinch the match.

O’Brien would give Eastern its first point of the match winning at No. 1 singles over Almantas Ozelis. O’Brien posted a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win.

For O’Brien, he now has 10 wins and nine losses at the No 1. singles position leading the Panthers.

At No 2. singles, Grant lost in two sets to Edison, 6-1, 6-4, Charbonneau fell at No 3. Singles 6-3, 6-3 to Drobysh. At No. 4 singles Kingsmith dropped his match in straight sets Kiesslich 6-1, 6-1. And at No. 5 singles Trent Reiman fell to Lorino 6-1, 6-1. 

Woodson notched his third win of the spring season, after winning the other point for Eastern playing at No. 6 singles. Woodson posted a 6-4, 1-6, 10-7 win over Chad Woodham.

For Eastern coach Sam Kercheval, this was a match to forget and the team needs to move forward.

“The match yesterday was very disappointing,” Kercheval said. “Not to take anything away from the guys who got a point on the board but we didn’t come to play the way we expect to, the way we need to if we want to win a tennis match.”

Eastern will now have to wait until next weekend to see if they advance to this year’s OVC Tournament in Nashville.  Eastern will host Marian (Ind.) University next Saturday at 2 p.m. for the Panthers’ senior day at Darling Courts.  Austin Peay improved to 2-15 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.

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