RICHMOND, Ky. – A hard-fought effort against Eastern Kentucky fell Austin Peay's way, Sunday, with the Govs emerging from Coach Tom Higgins Tennis Courts with a 4-3 victory.

The win moves the Govs to 11-5 overall, 6-2 in the OVC and assures Austin Peay a spot in the OVC Tournament, scheduled to begin April 17 in Paducah. Eastern Kentucky falls to 9-10 overall, 3-5 in the OVC.

“Overall, a good team effort for us today,” said head coach Ross Brown. “We had some guys really step up for us in big spots.”

The Govs' No. 2 doubles pairing of juniors Iago Seffrin and Dimitar Ristovski defeated Alex Alvaro and Sebastian Mueller, but it was the No. 3 pairing, comprised of freshmen James Mitchell and Manuel Montenegro, that allowed Austin Peay to take the doubles point; they defeated Daridge Saidi and Joao Maio, 8-3, for the pair's first win since Feb. 22 against Southern Indiana.

“We played very good doubles today,” Brown said. “Getting the victory from the freshman pairing was a big deal.”

The Govs top two singles players suffered defeats, but the bottom of the Govs lineup stepped up in a big way. Montenegro was spectacular against Maio at No. 6, earning the 6-1, 6-0 victory, while junior Aleksas Tverijonas was a 6-4, 6-2 winner against Juanjo de la Llera at No. 3; Tverijonas is 42-3 in his last 45 dual matches dating back to 2012.

The man who clinched the win for the Govs is the same man whose stellar singles play has provided a lift for Austin Peay in recent weeks. Seffrin won his seventh straight, defeating Mueller 6-4, 6-4 to secure the victory for Austin Peay.

“Iago played sensationally,” Brown said. “We win a lot of our matches with a solid top-four, but today we got some help at the bottom. Manuel was terrific in his win.”

The Govs conclude OVC regular season play by hosting a 10 a.m. contest against Murray State at the Austin Peay Tennis Courts.