RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting North Texas defeated the Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team Saturday afternoon in a very tight match, 5-2. With the win, the Mean Green snapped EKU’s five-match winning streak.

North Texas (11-4) got on top early thanks to a nail-biting win at No. 2 doubles. Kseniya Bardabush and Franziska Sprinkmeye outlasted juniors Saioa Oscoz and Milena Poffo in a tie-breaker, 8-6.

In singles, three of the six contests went to a super tie-breaker. Sophomore Amandine Faouzi rallied to win at No. 1 singles, 2-6, 6-2, (12-10). Faouzi fought off two match points in the deciding breaker. Oscoz was the only other Eastern (12-6) player to pick up a win. She won the No. 4 match in straight sets.

“I have nothing but praise for players’ effort today,” EKU head coach Rob Oertel said. “North Texas has been ranked as high as No. 47 in the country this year. This was a chance to play a great team.”

The Colonels return to OVC action on April 4 at rival Morehead State.

North Texas 5, Eastern Kentucky 2

Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Kseniya Bardabush (UNT) 2-6, 6-2, (12-10)
2. Barbora Vykydalova (UNT) def. Kristina Labeja (EKU)  4-6, 7-6, (10-4)
3. Valentina Starkova (UNT) def. Milena Poffo (EKU)  6-2, 6-1
4. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) def. Franziska Sprinkmeye (UNT)  6-2, 6-3
5. Ilona Serchenko (UNT) def. Marcela Jimenez (EKU)   4-6, 6-3, (10-5)
6. Agustina Valenzuela (UNT) def. Carmen Rodriguez (EKU)  6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Gerritsen/Labeja (EKU) def. Starkova/Vykydalova (UNT) 8-3
2. Bardabush/Sprinkmeye (UNT) def. Oscoz/Poffo (EKU)  8-7 (6)
3. Joubert/Serchenko (UNT) def. Faouzi/Kinnen (EKU)   8-5

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (12-6); North Texas (11-4)
Order of Finish: Doubles (1, 3, 2); Singles (3, 6, 4, 1, 5*, 2)