RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's tennis team improved to 8-2 at home with a 6-1 victory over visiting UT Martin Friday morning in the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
The top three singles matches were tight affairs with EKU (11-7, 6-1 OVC) prevailing at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Senior Amandine Faouzi (No. 1) picked up her team-leading 15th singles victory with a 7-5, 7-5 decision over UTM's Hitomi Naito. Fellow senior Kristina Labeja (No. 2) outlasted Sarah Candeloro in two tiebreakers, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6). Labeja fought off two set points in the second set breaker to earn the win.
 
Seniors Marcela Jimenez (No. 4) and Melissa Gerritsen (No. 5) as well as freshman Raquel Montalvo (No. 6) all won easily in straight sets.
 
Eastern Kentucky wraps up its home schedule tomorrow, April 4 with an OVC match against Southeast Missouri. Match time is set for 10 a.m.
 
Eastern Kentucky 6, UT Martin 1
 
Singles
1. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) def. Hitomi Naito (UTM) 7-5, 7-5
2. Kristina Labeja (EKU) def. Sarah Candeloro (UTM) 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6)
3. Burcu Tari (UTM) def. Marina Marti (EKU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) def. Elina Geut (UTM) 6-4, 6-0
5. Melissa Gerritsen (EKU) def. Jessica Silva (UTM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Raquel Montalvo (EKU) def. Florence Nicole (UTM) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Faouzi/Labeja (EKU) led Naito/Tari (UTM) 7-6 DNF
2. Gerritsen/Jimenez (EKU) def. Candeloro/Geut (UTM) 8-6
3. Marti/Montalvo (EKU) def. Nicole/Silva (UTM) 8-4
 
Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (11-7, 6-1 OVC); UT Martin (6-8, 3-4 OVC)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2*); Singles (4, 2, 3, 1*, 6, 5)