CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois women's tennis team hosts OVC foes Murray State and Austin Peay this weekend in their final home matches of the 2017 season. With only four matches left in the year, this weekend's matches will be crucial to securing a spot in the OVC Tournament.

The Panthers head into the weekend 11-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play after winning both of their matches in Tennessee last weekend. EIU is currently in a three-way tie with Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay for fourth in the conference.

Senior Kelly Iden guides the Panthers into the weekend after going undefeated in singles and doubles play last weekend to earn OVC Player of the Week honors. Iden, along with freshman Stella Cliffe, is currently 12-5 in singles play this season. The Fishers, Ind. native is also 4-1 in conference play.

Freshman Emily Pugachevsky boasts an undefeated 4-0 conference record after picking up her fifth straight win at Tennessee State in EIU's most recent match. Pugachevsky is one of four Panthers to have 10 or more wins this season, with Grace Summers sporting a 10-4 overall record.

In doubles play, Summers along with partner Kamile Stadalninkaite lead the team with a 3-1 OVC record while being tied with the duo of Cliffe and Iden for nine wins on the year.

Murray State opens this weekend's slate of matches at 1 p.m. on Friday hoping to end a two-match losing skid placing them at 5-9 this season and 2-3 in conference play.  The Panthers have only beaten the Racers three times in program history as Murray State holds a 23-3 series record over EIU. All three of EIU's previous wins were by one point with the last win coming in 2015. Both Iden and Summers recorded three set singles victories in that match to secure the win.

Austin Peay heads to Charleston Saturday looking to climb out of the three-way tie for fourth place as well. The Governors are currently on a two-match losing streak of their own falling to 5-7 overall and 3-2 in the OVC with a match at SIUE Friday before taking on the Panthers. APSU's Lidia Yanes Garcia and sister Claudia Yanes Garcia were voted first and second in the OVC's preseason top-10 list. Both are currently 4-0 in conference play having lost only one singles match each over their last 10 matches. 

EIU has won the last six matches in a row against Austin Peay to hold a 17-8 series record over the Governors.