RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team opened conference action Saturday with a pair of victories over Murray State (5-2) and Tennessee State (7-0).

The Colonels (7-10, 2-0 OVC) won the top three singles matches against Murray State in straight sets. Senior Anais Hamel then clinched the team victory with a 6-3, 7-5 decision at No. 5 singles.

“I was happy to see our team keep the faith against Murray after we dropped a tough doubles point,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “They really believed in themselves today and it showed by their court demeanor.”

Later in the afternoon, Eastern swept all six singles matches from Tennessee State in straight sets.

The Colonels are back in action Tuesday, March 23 at Kentucky.

Eastern Kentucky 5, Murray State 2

Singles
1. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) def. Angela McGahee (MUR) 6-4, 6-1
2. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) def. Cassidy Cunitz (MUR) 6-1, 6-2
3. Anouk Faure (EKU) def. Alexis Webb (MUR) 6-3, 6-2
4. Alyze Pagal (EKU) def. Ashley Canty (MUR) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (1)
5. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Lindsey Wiseman (MUR) 6-3, 7-5
6. Lyndsay Ottosen (MUR) def. Catarina Branco (EKU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. McGahee/Wiseman (MUR) def. Faure/Hamel (EKU) 8-3
2. Albuquerque/Pagal (EKU) def. Obukhova/Ottosen (MUR) 8-2
3. Canty/Webb (MUR) def. Branco/Mhirit (EKU) 8-4

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (6-10, 1-0 OVC); Murray State (3-5, 1-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 1, 3); Singles (6, 2, 1, 3, 5*, 4)

Eastern Kentucky 7, Tennessee State 0

Singles
1. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) def. Meagan Haynes (TSU) 6-3, 6-0
2. Anouk Faure (EKU) def. Lia Stewart (TSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Alyze Pagal (EKU) def. Penelope Johnson (TSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Kryston Mason (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Catarina Branco (EKU) def. Cherrelle Coleman (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Esmira Gheisary (EKU) def. Lezlie Knight (TSU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles
1. Faure/Hamel (EKU) def. Haynes/Johnson (TSU) 8-0
2. Albuquerque/Pagal (EKU) def. Mason/Stewart (TSU) 8-0
3. Branco/Gheisary (EKU) def. Mensah/Williams (TSU) 8-0

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (7-10, 2-0 OVC); Tennessee State (0-4, 0-4 OVC)