LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In the program’s first ever appearance in the NCAA men’s tennis championships, Eastern Kentucky University fell to nationally-ranked Louisville Saturday afternoon, 4-0. The OVC champion Colonels had their 11-match winning streak snapped and conclude the year 18-9 overall.

“I’m proud of the way our guys competed today,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “It could have been a totally different match if we would have won the doubles point. There was a great crowd on hand and at least we were able to give the fans some drama in the doubles.”

The doubles point came down to the No. 1 match thanks to an 8-6 victory by Eastern’s Hugo Klientovsky and Carles Pons at No. 3 doubles. However, Philip Janz and Niklas Schroeder came up just short for the Colonels at No. 1 doubles as the Louisville (23-5) duo held on for an 8-6 decision.

Louisville, the BIG EAST champion, then clinched the team victory by winning No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 singles all in straight sets. Klientovsky (No. 3) and Carlos Valdenebro (No. 5) had each captured the first sets of their respective matches for EKU when the final outcome had been decided.

The Cardinals now advance to play Virginia Tech tomorrow, May 16, in the NCAA’s second round.

2010 NCAA Championships – First Round
No. 15 Louisville, 4, Eastern Kentucky 0

Singles
1. Austen Childs (UL) def. Alex Das (EKU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Victor Maksimcuk (UL) def. Niklas Schroeder (EKU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) led Simon Childs (UL) 6-3, 0-2 DNF
4. Alejandro Calligari (UL) led Philip Janz (EKU) 6-2, 1-2 DNF
5. Carlos Valdenebro (EKU) led Andrew Carter (UL) 6-2, 3-4 DNF
6. Robert Hall (UL) def. Carles Pons (EKU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles
1. Calligari/SChilds (UL) def. Janz/Schroeder (EKU) 8-6
2. AChilds/Maksimcuk (UL) def. Das/Valdenebro (EKU) 8-1
3. Klientovsky/Pons (EKU) def. Hall/Gabriel (UL) 8-6

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (18-9); Louisville (23-5)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (2, 6, 1*)