The Eastern women’s tennis team eked-out a narrow win on Sunday morning.

Eastern won 4-3 Sunday against Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Eastern’s victory extends its record to 5-0.

After losing to Northern Iowa 4-3 last season, junior captain Natalie Martin said the team came into the match with the attitude of an underdog.

“It’s hard to explain in words what this win means for us,” Martin said.

Eastern was well-rested, whereas Northern Iowa was coming off two matches in two days.

The Eastern women’s team had also been scheduled to play South Dakota State on Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, but the match was canceled because of weather conditions.

The loss was only Northern Iowa’s second (6-2).

The Eastern women’s team won the doubles point against Northern Iowa and took two of three doubles matches.

Martin and sophomore Hayley Homburg won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles. Senior Sandra Sasidharan and freshman Cara Huck lost 8-7 at No. 2 doubles. Freshman Abby Allgire and sophomore Carrie Larson won 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.

Eastern and Northern Iowa split singles play with three singles’ wins each. Martin beat Sampada Kanade 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. Allgire won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4 singles against Taynara Moraes.

The winning point of the match came when Homburg rallied from behind at No. 3 singles to beat Laia Garrido. Homburg dropped the first set 3-6, and won the next two sets, 7-5, 6-4.

The women’s team watched the latter stages of Homburg’s No. 3 singles victory knowing what was on the line.

Martin attributed Homburg’s win to the work ethic and conditioning she displays at practice each day.

“She can outlast anyone on the court,” Martin said.

Sasidharan lost 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles to Meghana Paritala. Huck lost to Diana Mendez 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. Senior Stephanie Harmazy lost at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-2 to Carolina Hannes.

The women’s team will play its next match on Friday against Illinois State in Normal.

The Eastern men’s tennis team’s lone match of the weekend against Illinois State scheduled for Friday in Normal was also postponed because of weather. The men (4-4) play Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Rockford.

JC Clark can be reached at 581-7944 or at jrclark2@eiu.edu.