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PADUCAH, Ky. – The fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois women's tennis squad dominated No. 5-Austin Peay, 4-0, at the Heflin Tennis Center in Paducah, Ky., to open Ohio Valley Conference Tournament first round action this morning (April 19).

With the win, the Panthers improve to 13-5 overall and will advance to the semifinal round for the first time since the 2007, where EIU will face the No. 1-Seed, and defending champion, Eastern Kentucky squad.

Starting in doubles, the Panther duo of freshman Ali Foster and senior Kristen Laird earned a relatively easy 8-1 win at the No. 3 spot to give EIU the advantage, but the Lady Govs would counter with their own 8-3 win at No. 2 duos to knot doubles play at one-win apiece.

However, the All-OVC tandem of junior Janelle Prisner and senior Merritt Whitley would eventually claw past their respective No. 1 APSU opponents for a thrilling 8-6 win to help the Panthers capture the all-important doubles point.

From that point on, the Panther singles play by Foster, junior Jennifer Kim and Laird at No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6, respectively, would prove the difference as each Panther hit past the APSU opposition in commanding straight sets.

Laird blanked her opponent, as Kim followed by only giving up one game and Foster captured consecutive 6-1 wins.

The win helped to avenge a season-ending loss to the Lady Govs at last spring's league event, as APSU handed the Panthers a tough 4-2 loss.

Eastern's upcoming semifinal action against EKU will get underway at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.  During the regular-season, the Colonels earned a 7-0 sweep of the Panthers in Charleston.

#4-EIU Women 4, #5-APSU Women 0
April 19, 2013 in Paducah, Ky.
(Heflin Tennis Center)

Singles
1. Janelle Prisner (EIU) vs. Alison Carre (APSU) - unfinished
2. Sephora Boulbahaiem (EIU) vs. Ornella Di Salvo (APSU) - unfinished
3. Merritt Whitley (EIU) vs. Andra Cornea (APSU) - unfinished
4. Ali Foster (EIU) def. Vanessa Tavares (APSU) - 6-1, 6-1
5. Jennifer Kim (EIU) def. Jovana Karac (APSU) - 6-0, 6-1
6. Kristen Laird (EIU) def. Julie Covington (APSU) - 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Prisner/Whitley (EIU) def. Di Salvo/Cornea (APSU) - 8-6
2. Carre/Tavares (APSU) def. Boulbahaiem/Hannah Kimbrough (EIU) - 8-3
3. Foster/Laird (EIU) def. Karac/Mary Theresa Kubek (APSU) - 8-1

Match Notes:
Austin Peay ... 9-13
Eastern Illinois ... 13-5

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,4)
2013 OVC Championship ... First Round
T-2:20

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID