MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Eastern Illinois women's tennis squad returned to Ohio Valley Conference action by defeating Morehead State, 5-2, on Thursday morning.  With the win, the Panthers move to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in league play.

Capturing the all-important doubles point helped the Panthers secure the victory, as the EIU duos of Hayley Homburg/Natalie Martin and Sandra Sasidharan/Cara Huck each won with scores of 8-4 and 8-1, playing at No. 1 and No. 2 Doubles, respectively.  The team of Abby Allgire/Carrie Larson, meanwhile, dropped a very close 8-6 matchup at No. 3 Doubles.

The Panthers also picked up four wins in singles action, taking each in straight sets.  At the top of the lineup was senior Sandra Sasidharan's identical 6-3 two set win, to improve to 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the OVC.  At No. 2 Singles, junior Natalie Martin won decisively, 6-0, 6-4, to stand at 9-2 overall and 2-1 in OVC.

Sophomore Hayley Homburg won her first set at No. 3 Singles easily, 6-1, before gutting out a 7-5 second set victory to notch a 7-5 and 2-1 mark.  Lastly, freshman Abby Allgire played a very competitive No. 4 matchup by picking up the win, 7-5 and 6-3, which improves her records to 7-4 and 1-2.

The Panthers continue a two-match OVC road swing through Kentucky by facing Eastern Kentucky at Noon on Friday.  The EIU squad will then return home for a 10 am matchup with Tennessee State this coming Sunday.

Eastern Illinois 5, Morehead State 2

Singles
1. SASIDHARAN, Sandra (EIU) def. Madeleinne Antero - 6-3, 6-3
2. MARTIN, Natalie (EIU) def. Alexandra Rydberg - 6-0, 6-4
3. HOMBURG, Hayley (EIU) def. Megan Rozboril - 6-1, 7-5
4. ALLGIRE, Abby (EIU) def. Heather Butt - 7-5, 6-3
5. Lauren Delaney def. HUCK, Cara (EIU) - 8-4
6. Alix Lakow def. HARMAZY, Stephanie (EIU) - 8-2

Doubles
1. HOMBURG, Hayley/MARTIN, Natalie (EIU) def. Adriana Espinosa/Heather Butt - 8-4
2. SASIDHARAN, Sandra/HUCK, Cara (EIU) def. Alexandra Rydberg/Megan Rozboril - 8-1
3. Madeleinne Antero/Alix Lakow def. ALLGIRE, Abby/LARSON, Carrie (EIU) - 8-6

... for more info, contact Bart Rettberg, Asst. SID