PADUCAH, Ky. – Top seed Eastern Kentucky held off late charge by the Jacksonville State women's tennis team to earn a 4-2 win and advance to the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Tennis Championships match on Saturday.

EKU claimed the doubles point and then won three singles matches for the win. Viviane Marani defeated the OVC Player of the Year Alexandra Sitnikova, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 singles and Martina Dessbesell downed Svetlana Pimenova, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles for JSU's two points.

JSU trailed 3-2 but looked to be rallying when Julianna Renesto led 5-0 in the first set against Myriem Mhirit at No.3 singles and Rafaela Wenzel was up a set at No. 5. Mhirit came back to claim the first set 7-5 and grabbed a 6-3 win in the second set to secure the win for EKU.

The Gamecocks finish the season at 13-8 overall and posted a 5-3 mark in the OVC.

Results
Women's Match #3 - No. 1 Eastern Kentucky vs. No. 4 Jacksonville State
Singles
1 Viviane Marani (JSU) Alexandra Sitnikova, 6-4, 6-3
2 Martina Dessbesell (JSU) def. Svetlana Pimenova, 6-0, 6-0
3 Myriem Mhirit def. Julianna Renesto (JSU), 7-5, 6-3
4 Nadja Barz def. Eloah Lopes (JSU), 6-1, 6-1
5 Rafaela Wenzel (JSU) vs. Anouk Faure, 6-4, DNF
6 Jemma Evers def. Kimberly Ferris (JSU), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1 Alexandra Sitnikova/ Svetlana Pimenova def. Martina Dessbesell/ Eloah Lopes (JSU), 8-5
2 Anouk Faure/Jemma Evers def. Viviane Marani/ Rafaela Wenzel (JSU), 7-4 DNF
3 Myriem Mhirit/ Nadja Barz def. Juliana Renesto/ Laura Lundy (JSU), 8-2

Doubles Point - EKU
Final Score EKU 4 – JSU 2