The Eastern tennis teams capped a season in which both the men and the women competed at levels no other Eastern teams ever have.

Both made it past the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships for the first time, and both gave coach Brian Holzgrafe something he could not dream of.

“I don’t really live my life with expectations,” Holzgrafe said. “I don’t expect anything but their best efforts, and I would say they probably exceeded my dreams. We really had a memorable season.”

The Panther men took third place after just barely missing a chance to make it to the championship match over the weekend. They fell 4-3 to Murray State in the semifinals but rebounded with a 4-2 win against Eastern Kentucky to earn third place and final season record of 12-7.

Holzgrafe said despite taking fourth place in the OVC, the women’s team never reached its full ability. Injuries to top players throughout the season prevented the Panthers from being at full strength.

“I think it affected the women’s potential,” Holzgrafe said. “They were battling injuries at the top of the order all season.”

One of those players was No. 1 singles player Jana Matsouskova, who Holzgrafe said was beat up the entire year.

Eastern also had to do without captain Becky Brunner for the entire tournament. Brunner had the best record for the women at 12-5, earning the team’s only OVC All-Conference honors.

The men had four players named to the 12-player list, with Brandon Blankenbaker and Matt Sadler getting automatic bids by being the top players at their positions. Senior Lukasz Pluta was named to his first All-Conference team, and C.J. Weber received his second honor at No. 1 singles with an 11-4 record.

Holzgrafe received men’s All-Conference Coach of the Year Award in just his second year as Eastern’s coach. Holzgrafe was pleased the conference rewarded so many of his players.

“To have that many players step up and get recognized where in the past we didn’t get any recognition, is great,” Holzgrafe said.

Credit can also be given to assistant coach Eric Surges, who is in his first year assisting Holzgrafe.

“That has probably been the greatest help this year,” Holzgrafe said. “Everyone is well aware that he is a big part of (the team’s success). That’s a position that has really lacked in the past.”

The men’s team will lose the senior doubles pair of Pluta and Sadler but will return everyone else with added experience. Holzgrafe thinks both Jason Girardin and Colin Priestner can take off and fill in leadership roles next season.

The women will lose both Matsouskova and Becky Carlson to graduation and also

sophomore Ivana Milosevic, who will not be returning to the team. Younger players Sara Freeman, Amber Lenfert and Jill Wirtz will be needed to move up after having successful seasons at the lower spots.