Men's Tennis Earns Seventh Sweep of the Season at Eastern Illinois Saturday

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Matching the program's single-season record for wins, the Belmont University men's tennis team earned its seventh sweep of the season Saturday at Eastern Illinois. Defeating the host Panthers (5-12, 1-6 Horizon) 7-0 exactly one week after earning a 6-1 triumph over Eastern Illinois in Nashville, the Bruins were once again dominant throughout their lineup and surrendered only four combined games in doubles action.
 
Winning its ninth consecutive match, Belmont improves to 16-5 overall and 7-0 in Horizon League play.
 
The nationally-ranked doubles duo of graduate student Marko Ilic and junior Riccardo Trione, who won its 11th-straight match, got things started with a 6-1 victory over the Panthers' Cameron Slabbert and Thomas Wallace at the top spot before junior Tomas Luis and sophomore Ian Cruz closed out the doubles point on court three with a 6-0 rout of Eastern Illinois' Tyler Carlin and Max Pilipovic-Kljajic. Senior Jack Randall and junior Alfred Wallin's match at No. 2 doubles went unfinished as the pair was even at 3-all with the Panthers' Pau Riera and Alex Dinkov.
 
Both Ilic and Cruz gave up only two games apiece in their matches at No. 1 and No. 4 singles, respectively, with Ilic topping Slabbert 6-1, 6-1 and Cruz blowing past Dinkov 6-2, 6-0.
 
Wallin and Randall both won their singles outings in 6-2, 6-2 fashion as Wallin bested Riera at the second position and Randall ousted Antonio Ayerbe Streubel at the sixth flight.
 
Luis dismissed Carlin 6-0, 6-4 on court three and Trione finished off the day with a little more resistance at No. 5 singles, ultimately earning a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win versus Wallace.
 
The victory was head coach Mauricio Antun's 100th men's dual match win. Next weekend at home, the Bruins have a chance to set the program record for most victories in a season.
 
Up Next
Belmont returns to the Music City next weekend, wrapping up the home portion of its campaign with Tennessee Tech next Saturday and Southern Indiana next Sunday for senior day.
 
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