RICHMOND, Ky. – Brooke Helms won the decisive match at No. 6 singles to allow visiting Morehead State to earn a 4-3 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team Tuesday afternoon. With the win, Morehead State (8-10, 5-0 OVC) knocked EKU (10-12, 5-1) out of first play in the conference standings.

Junior Myriem Mhirit’s victory at No. 1 singles put Eastern ahead in the team score, 3-2. However, Morehead State took the last two matches on the court – No. 2 and No. 6 singles – in three-set thrillers. Freshman Catarina Branco trailed Helms in the third set, 5-2, only to fight back and force a tie-breaker. However, Helms proved too much for Branco at the end of the match.

The Eagles opened the match by taking the pivotal doubles point. The No. 1 doubles match was tied at 6-all before Morehead State’s Madeleinne Antero and Lauren Delaney won the final two games.

“Morehead State was definitely the better team today,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “We need to find a way to grind out the tight matches.”

Eastern Kentucky hits the road for its final five regular season matches. First up is Austin Peay on Friday, April 2.

Morehead State 4, Eastern Kentucky 3

Singles
1. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) def. Alix Young (MOR) 6-2, 6-4
2. Alexandra Rydberg (MOR) def. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Anouk Faure (EKU) def. Kayla Tuscany (MOR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Madeleinne Antero (MOR) def. Alyze Pagal (EKU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Lauren Delaney (MOR) 6-3, 6-1
6. Brooke Helms (MOR) def. Catarina Branco (EKU) 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 (0)

Doubles
1. Antero/Delaney (MOR) def. Faure/Hamel (EKU) 8-6
2. Rydberg/Young (MOR) def. Albuquerque/Pagal (EKU) 8-1
3. Branco/Mhirit (EKU) def. Helms/Tuscany (MOR) 8-2

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (10-12, 5-1 OVC); Morehead State (8-10, 5-0 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (4, 5, 3, 1, 2, 6*)