Jan. 19, 2007

The Eastern Washington University men's tennis team (0-1) opened up its 2007 spring schedule with the highest-ranked opponent on its schedule in the 18th-ranked University of Washington Huskies. The contest was UW's opener, as well, and the Huskies prevailed in the Friday afternoon (Jan. 19) contest, 6-1. The host Huskies are the only opponent on EWU's schedule to advance to last year's NCAA Sweet 16.

Eastern's No. 1 doubles team of Pannhara Mam and Kyle Schraeder provided a solid performance today, taking Washington's top duo of Andy Kuharszky and Alex Slovic to the limit in a tight contest before falling, 8-6. The two are coming off a strong fall which saw them advance to the semifinals of the Duck Classic.

The Huskies claimed the first two doubles matches to finish to earn the all-important doubles point and take a 1-0 lead into singles play. Keithan Gregg and Daniel Pez dropped an 8-2 decision to No. 35 Patrik Fischer and Michael Ricks at No. 2, while the third court saw EWU's Jonathan Davis and Patrick Millican fall to Daniel and David Chu, 8-4.

Washington claimed the first five singles matches to finish, each in straight sets, before Millican allowed Eastern to end the contest on a positive note with an impressive 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 victory over UW's Fischer.

Next week, the Eagles will continue and conclude its stretch of four matches away from home to start the 2007 schedule with a trip to the Centennial State to play Denver, Air Force and Northern Colorado.

The DU Pioneers are ranked 62nd nationally and will open its schedule versus the Eagles. That match will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Thursday (Jan. 25). The Eagles face the Falcons (0-3) the next day and the Bears the day after that. The UNC match will serve as the Bears' first-ever in Big Sky Conference play and will also be their opening contest overall in 2007.

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Eastern Washington at Washington

#18 Washington 6, Eastern Washington 1

Jan. 19, 2007, at Seattle, Wash.

Singles competition

1. #98 Alex Slovic (UW) def. Pannhara Mam (UWU), 6-1, 6-1

2. Daniel Chu (UW) def. Kyle Schraeder (EWU), 6-4, 6-1

3. Andy Kuharszky (UW) def. Daniel Pez (EWU), 6-1, 6-0

4. Patrick Millican (EWU) def. Patrik Fischer (UW), 7-6 (2), 6-3

5. Michael Ricks (UW) def. Keithan Gregg (EWU), 6-3, 6-2

6. David Chu (UW) def. Art Karas (EWU), 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Andy Kuharszky/Alex Slovic (UW) def. Pannhara Mam/Kyle Schraeder (EWU), 8-6

2. #35 Patrik Fischer/Michael Ricks (UW) def. Keithan Gregg/Daniel Pez (UWU), 8-2

3. Daniel Chu/David Chu (UW) def. Jonathan Davis/Patrick Millican (EWU), 8-4

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,6,2,5,1,4)