ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's tennis team rallied to defeat Division I Eastern Illinois 4-3 on Friday at the UMSL Tennis Courts. The Tritons improve to 4-3 while the Panthers fall to 4-15.

Eastern Illinois won the first two doubles contests to win the first point of the match. UMSL's number one doubles team of Tanin Ramnath and Daniel Berdecio won their match in a tiebreak 7-6 (7-1).

The Panthers won the first two singles matches at number five and six singles to extend their lead to 3-0 but the Tritons rallied winning the final four matches to secure the victory. Berdecio started the rally with a three-set win over Ludolph Wiggett 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 at number four singles. Percy Siercke dropped the first set of his match to Zach White 3-6 but won the last two 6-3, 6-4.

Ramnath won his match at number two singles against Pieke Bouman 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to even the match 3-3 apiece and Alejandro Ley clinched the comeback rallying for a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5) win over Alex Aldaz in the number one singles match.

UMSL is scheduled to be back in action on Saturday (March 15) hosting McPherson (Kan.) College at 11 a.m. at the UMSL Tennis Courts.