RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team began its 2013 indoor schedule with a pair of victories over Eastern Michigan (6-1) and the University of the Cumberlands (7-0) Saturday in the Greg Adams Indoor Tennis Center.

“The Eastern Michigan match was much closer than the final score indicates,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “Every singles match was very competitive. I was very pleased with how our players put together effective game plans and I think that was the difference.”

All six starters in today’s match against Eastern Michigan are members from last year’s squad that went undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference action and advanced to the 2012 NCAA tournament.

Sophomore Amandine Faouzi easily won the No. 1 match against EMU’s Nino Mebuke, 6-2, 6-1. Juniors Saioa Oscoz (No. 4) and Carmen Rodriguez (No. 6) also won their matches in straight sets.

In the Cumberlands match, freshman Dani Kinnen made her Colonel debut at No. 4 singles.

The Colonels return to action this coming Friday, Jan. 25 with a home match against Xavier. Match time is set for 4 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky 6, Eastern Michigan 1

Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Nino Mebuke (EMU)  6-2, 6-1
2. Klara Supejova (EMU) def. Melissa Gerritsen (EKU)  7-6, 7-6
3. Kristina Labeja (EKU) def. Daphne Friedrichs (EMU)  6-3, 5-7, 6-3
4. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) def. Mariya Toncheva (EMU)  6-2, 6-4
5. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) def. Ankita Bhatia (EMU)  4-6, 6-3, (10-5)
6. Carmen Rodriguez (EKU) def. Zsofia Biro (EMU)  6-4, 6-3

Doubles
1. Mebuke/Supejova (EMU) def. Labeja/Oscoz (EKU)  8-5
2. Faouzi/Gerritsen (EKU) def. Friedrichs/Toncheva (EMU) 8-2
3. Jimenez/Poffo (EKU) def. Bhatia/Biro (EMU)   8-4

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

Eastern Kentucky 7, Cumberlands 0

Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Neesha Thirumalaichelvam (CUMB) 6-1, 6-0
2. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) def. Chanel Williams (CUMB)   6-0, 6-1
3. Milena Poffo (EKU) def. Sydni Grimes (CUMB)   6-0, 6-0
4. Dani Kinnen (EKU) def. Shelby Muff (CUMB)    6-0, 6-0
5. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) def. Erin Hart (CUMB)    6-0, 6-0
6. Carmen Rodriguez (EKU) def. Lindsay Collette (CUMB)  6-1, 6-0

Doubles
1. Labeja/Oscoz (EKU) def. Muff/Thirumalaichelvam (CUMB)  8-3
2. Faouzi/Gerritsen (EKU) def. Hart/Williams (CUMB)   8-0
3. Kinnen/Rodriguez (EKU) def. Goodman/Grimes (CUMB)  8-0

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (2-0); Univ. of the Cumberlands (0-1)
Order of Finish: Doubles (n/a); Singles (n/a)