RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team began conference play Friday with a 4-3 victory over Austin Peay.

After EKU pulled out the doubles point, freshman Milena Poffo (No. 5) and senior Myriem Mhirit (No. 2) won their contests in straight sets to help the Colonels earn the team victory. Mhirit won five straight games at one point on her way to defeating Austin Peay’s Carolin Weikard.

“Our players that won today in singles and doubles won because of the power of positive thinking,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “I think that made a huge difference in the outcome of the match.”

These two teams last met in the 2010 OVC championship match where Austin Peay prevailed, 4-2.

This was the first OVC loss of the season for Austin Peay (5-7, 2-1 OVC) while the Colonels (8-7, 1-0) snapped a three-match losing skid.

Eastern Kentucky is back in action tomorrow, March 19 against UT Martin.

Eastern Kentucky 4, Austin Peay 3

Singles
1. Vanja Tomic (APSU) def. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) def. Carolin Weikard (APSU) 6-4, 7-5
3. Rachel Margolies (APSU) def. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
4. Andra Cornea (APSU) def. Anouk Faure (EKU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
5. Milena Poffo (EKU) def. Kimberly Loo (APSU) 7-6, 6-2
6. Sophie O’Neill (EKU) won by default

Doubles
1. Albuquerque/Oscoz (EKU) def. Loo/Tomic (APSU) 8-5
2. Cornea/Weikard (APSU) def. Faure/Mhirit (EKU) 8-7
3. O’Neill/Poffo (EKU) won by default

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (8-7, 1-0 OVC); Austin Peay (5-7, 2-1 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (6, 1, 5, 2*, 3, 4)