PADUCAH, Ky. – It was business as usual for the Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team as the Colonels blanked Eastern Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon, 4-0. EKU will face No. 2 seed Jacksonville State in the championship match tomorrow.

Sophomore Amandine Faouzi (No. 1), the OVC Player of the Year, along with sophomore Kristina Labeja (No. 2) and sophomore Melissa Gerritsen (No. 4) all picked up straight set victories versus the Panthers.

Eastern Kentucky (18-6) opened the match by winning No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to earn the doubles point.

The Colonels are aiming for their second consecutive and third-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament. EKU downed Jacksonville State earlier this season by a count of 7-0.

2013 OVC Tournament – Semifinals
No. 1 Eastern Kentucky 4, No. 4 Eastern Illinois 0

Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Janelle Prisner (EIU)  6-2, 6-3
2. Kristina Labeja (EKU) def. Sephora Boulbahaiem (EIU)  6-2, 7-5
3. Saioa Oscoz (EKU) vs. Merritt Whitley (EIU)   DNF
4. Melissa Gerritsen (EKU) def. Ali Foster (EIU)   6-0, 6-0
5. Milena Poffo (EKU) vs. Jennifer Kim (EIU)   DNF
6. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) vs. Hannah Kimbrough (EIU)  DNF

Doubles
1. Prisner/Whitley (EIU) def. Gerritsen/Labeja (EKU)   8-6
2. Oscoz/Poffo (EKU) def. Boulbahaiem/Kimbrough (EIU) 8-2
3. Faouzi/Rodriguez (EKU) def. Foster/Laird (EIU)  8-5

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (18-6); Eastern Illinois (12-7)
Order of Finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (4, 1, 2*)