DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The third-ranked Embry-Riddle men's tennis team came up short against NCAA Division I Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, falling to the Colonels by a score of 5-2. The win improves EKU to 10-3 on the year, while the Eagles drop to 6-4 overall.

For the match, the two sides agreed to play under NCAA Division I rules, meaning that whichever team won more doubles matches would earn a single point, as opposed to having all three doubles matches count for one point each. Peter Francis and Simon Felix were able to pick up an 8-4 win at the No. 2 position, but Eastern Kentucky won the other two doubles matches to grab a 1-0 lead in the match.

In singles play, Chris Freeman fought hard to claim a three-set victory at the No. 1 position, defeating Alex Das 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Felix also had to go the distance to earn a win at No. 4 singles, knocking off Philip Janz in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Francis played one of the longest matches of the day, fighting back after losing the first set to push the match into a decisive third set, but came up short against Niklas Schroeder, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

EKU picked up straight-set wins at Nos. 2, 5 and 6 six singles to take the match by a score of 5-2.

The Eagles return to the courts on Monday, Mar. 14 when they will host Auburn Montgomery in a match slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.