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PADUCAH, Ky. – Eastern Illinois women's tennis season came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers lost in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals 4-2 to SIUE with the match coming down to the final two singles matches, both of which were in their third sets when the Cougars picked up the win.
 
EIU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match winning the doubles point with Madeline Monroy and Brittany Steven clinching the point with their 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles.  SIUE won the No. 1 doubles match with EIU squaring the doubles with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles by Elizaveta Bukraba-Ulanova and Lauren Ellis.
 
In singles play SIUE quickly jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the match with wins at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles. 
 
Bukraba-Ulanova brought the Panthers back to within one point in the match with her two set win at No. 2 doubles.  She beat Margaux Guibal Britt 6-3, 6-3.
 
The match then came down to singles play at No. 1 and No. 6 singles with both matches going into a third set.
 
SIUE was able to win the match with Caitlyn Sporing outlasting Ellis at No. 6 singles winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-3. 
 
Christine Gouws match at No. 1 singles against Jill Lambrechts was left unfinished in the third set with each having won one of the first two sets. 
 
EIU ends the season at 13-11 overall as its five seniors wrapped up their careers as Panthers.  Seniors Elizaveta Bukraba-Ulanova, Lauren Ellis, Christine Gouws, Claire Perez-Korinko and Brittany Steven all finished.