CLARKSVILLE. Tenn. -- The WKU men's tennis team ran into stiff competition on Friday in Clarksville, Tenn., falling in the second match of the season, 7-0 to Austin Peay.

The Hilltoppers, who start the season 0-2 for the first time since 2007, were unable to pick up a win in doubles or singles play during the match, but did force a pair of singles into a third set and one double into a tie-breaking scenario.

The win for Austin Peay (2-1) was the second in as many years for the Governors over WKU, after the two programs had split the previous 12 matches leading up to this season. The meeting between two former Ohio Valley Conference rivals was the 61st all-time between the two, starting back in 1963.

The Hilltoppers switched up the lineup following a 6-1 loss in the season opener against Lipscomb, moving Craig Kirchgessner up to the No. 2 singles position after he played at the No. 4 spot against the Bison. 

Freshman J.T. Closi was one of two Hilltoppers to push a single to a third set after he picked up a win in the second set against Iago Seffrin of Austin Peay, 6-2. Fellow freshman Brody Freeman also went to a third set, falling in a thriller to John Storie 6-4, 6-7 (8-6), 12-10. 

The first two matches of the season have been opportunities for young Hilltoppers to gain valuable experience, as now four newcomers have made debuts so far this year, as freshman Andrew Fish saw his first action of the season at No. 3 doubles on Friday. 

The Hilltoppers will look to break into the win column next weekend as they travel to Columbia, Ky., to take on Lindsey Wilson on Saturday, February 18. 

Austin Peay 7, WKU 0

Ademovic (APSU) def. Smith (WKU): 6-1, 6-3

Bailey (APSU) def. Kirchgessner (WKU): 6-2, 6-1

Ristovski (APSU) def. L. Freeman (WKU): 6-3, 6-1

Seffrin (APSU) def. Closi (WKU): 7-5, 2-6, 10-3

Tverijonas (APSU) def. Selvan (WKU): 6-2, 6-2

Storie (APSU) def. B. Freeman (WKU): 6-4, 6-7 (8-6), 12-10

Bailey/Ristovski (APSU) def. Smith/Closi (WKU): 8-2

Seffrin/Ademovic (APSU) def. Kirchgessner/Freeman (WKU): 9-8 (7-3)

Storie/Tverijonas (APSU) def. Selvan/Fish (WKU): 8-5