Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky, the No. 3 seed, upset No. 2 seed Tennessee-Martin, 4-3, in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals on Saturday and will face undefeated Southern Illinois Edwardsville in the title match on Sunday in Nashville.
 
The Colonels (12-10) lost to SIU Edwardsville on the road by a 4-3 score in March.  The Cougars are 20-0 overall this season.  Sunday's championship match will begin at 11 a.m. ET at the Centennial Sportsplex.
 
"What a performance by our girls today to beat a team seeded ahead of us that beat us soundly during the regular season," Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Rob Oertel said.  "It was a drama filled match.  Our week of preparation and the level of confidence the team is playing with right now really showed today."
 
Just as it did on Friday in the first round, EKU lost the doubles point and fell behind early.
 
UT Martin (12-5) went up 2-0 after a win at No. 1 to get singles play started.  The Colonels' comeback bid started at No. 4 and No. 3 singles. 
 
Sagung Putri Dwinta got Eastern on the board when her opponent was forced to retire at No. 4 singles.  Burcu Tari won the first set 6-3 and was in up 5-3 with match point in the second set before having issues with muscle cramps for the second time in the match.
 
Laura Argente tied the match, 2-2, with a three set victory at No. 3 singles over first team All-OVC performer Asel Jumamukhambetova.  After winning the first set, 6-1, Argente fell in the second 6-3.  She took the match with a 6-2 victory in the third set.
 
The Skyhawks closed to within a point of winning the match when Hitomi Naito won a three-set match over EKU's Viktorija Demcenkova.
 
Margaux Lacroix tied the score again when she earned a 6-4 and 7-5 win at No. 5 singles.  Marina Marti scored the decisive fourth point when she closed out the match with a 7-5 and 6-4 win over Jemima Potter at No. 6 singles.
 
"Marina was out there with everyone watching and the match on the line," Oertel said.  "Just a credit to the girls' inner confidence and belief in themselves."
 
Eastern Kentucky University 4, UT Martin 3
Singles competition
1. CANDELORO, Sarah (UTM) def. Kristina Lagoda (EKU) 6-3, 6-0
2. NAITO, Hitomi (UTM) def. Viktorija Demcenkova (EKU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-4
3. Laura Argente (EKU) def. JUMAMUKHAMBETOVA, A. (UTM) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
4. Sagung Putri Dwinta (EKU) def. TARI, Burcu (UTM) 3-6, 4-5, retired
5. Margaux Lacroix (EKU) def. PLANTADA CORTES, A. (UTM) 6-4, 7-5
6. Marina Marti (EKU) def. POTTER, Jemima (UTM) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. CANDELORO, Sarah/POTTER, Jemima (UTM) def. Kristina Lagoda/Viktorija Demcenkova (EKU) 6-2
2. NAITO, Hitomi/JUMAMUKHAMBETOVA, A. (UTM) vs. Laura Argente/Raquel Montalvo (EKU) 5-4, unfinished
3. TARI, Burcu/PLANTADA CORTES, A. (UTM) def. Sagung Putri Dwinta/Marina Marti (EKU) 6-3
 
Match Notes:
Eastern Kentucky University 11-10
UT Martin 12-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,5,6)
2017 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Semifinals
No. 2 seed Tennessee-Martin vs. No. 3 seed Eastern Kentucky