Bouncing back from break

By Kristin Rojek

Associate sports editor

The men’s tennis team will travel to the University of Evansville today for their first dual meet in over a week.

“I’m not too sure how we’re going to look tomorrow,” head coach Michael Hunt said. “It’s not the smartest thing scheduling a meet right after a week off, but we have conference matches coming up this weekend, so we need to play.”

The Purple Aces will continue to bring a strong team out on the courts, having defeated the Panthers last season, 5-2.

“They’re just about as strong as last year,” Hunt said. “They have a few Australians and a few Sweeds, so they’re a very international-oriented team and one of the top five in the Missouri Valley Conference.”

Evansville has also defeated Eastern’s Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee-Martin. The Panthers will have a battle ahead, with many injuries and illnesses on the team, as well as the set back during the week off for spring break.

“We’ll have to put forth a really good effort to beat them, and I don’t know if we can do that after a week off,” Hunt said. “We have so many illnesses and injuries that it’s amazing to me right now. We’re hoping to have six healthy bodies to go.”

While No. 1 singles player Blajez Tondel sat our of last week’s competition against Southern Illinois, he is expected to return to the line up today against the Purple Aces. Teammate Lukasz Pluta, who played in the No. 1 position against the Salukis, is not likely to play today.

“Lukasz probably shouldn’t have played at Southern, but he hung in there and I don’t expect him to play (against Evansville),” Hunt said.

With Pluta out, Hunt will look to C.J. Weber and Brandon Blankenbaker.

“C.J. and Brandon, our freshmen, will have to step up again,” Hunt said. “I have as much confidence in them as any of the other players.”

Eastern is coming off a 5-2 win at Southern Illinois March 8, the Salukis’ first loss of the season. Eastern improved its record to an overall 5-4 while Southern fell 1-4.

“The win against Southern was huge,” Hunt said. “It was probably the biggest one we’ve had and it was a Midwest wake-up call. We can play with teams in Illinois and we’re a solid team.”

While Pluta and Weber suffered losses in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, the Panthers took home victories in No. 3-6 positions in Blankenbaker (4-6, 7-6, 1-0) Ilyes Hassib (6-2, 6-0), Andy Beker (6-2, 6-2) and Jason Braun (4-6, 6-3, 6-1).

No. 2 and No. 3 doubles were also successful for Eastern as Blankenbaker and Weber defeated SIU’s Alon Savidor and Tim Marsh 8-4 and Beker and teammate Matt Sadler defeated Saluki Chris Carpenter and Brian Blake 8-3.

Following today’s matchup in Evansville, the Panthers’ men’s and women’s teams will host their home opener against Saint Francis.