DELAND, Fla. – Stetson held off the Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis Tuesday afternoon by a count of 5-2. The Hatters improve to 6-4 while the Colonels fall to 11-4.

Sophomore Myriem Mhirit, who moved up to No. 2 singles for the first time this season, came through with a straight set win over Stetson’s Breanna Atkinson. Freshman Nadja Barz was also victorious in two sets at the No. 3 position.

The Hatters claimed the victory thanks to pulling off three-set victories at No. 1 and No. 5 singles.

“We played our hearts out today, but came out on the short end to a good Stetson team,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “We will be a better outdoor team in a couple of weeks.”

Eastern Kentucky finishes its spring break trip tomorrow at Jacksonville. Match time is set for 10 a.m.

Stetson 5, Eastern Kentucky 2

Singles
1. Valentina Galbarini (STET) def. Alexandra Sitnikova (EKU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
2. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) def. Breanna Atkinson (STET) 6-4, 6-4
3. Nadja Barz (EKU) def. Unnati Purushotham (STET) 7-5, 6-1
4. Katherine Nowicki (STET) def. Anouk Faure (EKU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Shannon Gunning (STET) def. Jemma Euers (EKU) 6-3, 5-7, 7-6
6. Jacqueline Faulk (STET) def. Alyze Pagal (EKU) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles
1. Galbarini/Purushotham (STET) def. Euers/Faure (EKU) 8-3
2. Atkinson/Nowicki (STET) def. Pimenova/Sitnikova (EKU) 8-5
3. Barz/Mhirit (EKU) def. Gunning/St. Clair (STET) 8-3