Rainy conditions forced the Eastern Illinois women’s tennis team’s match to be moved indoors at the Greg Adams Tennis Center in Richmond, Ky., where Eastern Kentucky handed the Panthers a 4-1 defeat.

The No. 74 Eastern women’s tennis team lost its second straight Ohio Valley Conference match, falling to 6-2 overall and 0-2 in conference with its 4-1 loss to the Colonels.

Eastern Kentucky extended its OVC winning streak to three, winning all three doubles matches and losing only one of four singles matches, improving to 6-7 on the season.

The No. 5 and 6 flights were not finished, as Eastern Kentucky had already wrapped up the win with a 7-6, 6-4 (10-6) victory by senior Milena Poffo over Panthers’ sophomore Ali Foster.

After winning their seventh straight doubles point to start the season on Saturday against Morehead State, the Panthers were swept in doubles competition by the Colonels.

Eastern’s sole win against Eastern Kentucky came from junior Sephora Boulbahaiem, who beat Saio Oscoz in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Saturday matches

The Eastern women’s tennis team began OVC action against Morehead State Saturday, as the Panthers started their conference schedule with a 4-3 loss.

The previously undefeated women’s team, which entered Sadler Courts in Morehead, Ky., dropped to 6-1 on the season, while the Eagles improved to 4-8, capturing their OVC-opening match win.

The Eastern women picked up two of the three doubles matches wins, gaining them a team point. With the doubles point in hand, the Panthers needed a split or better in six singles matches to win.

The Eagles were able to bounce back from the doubles defeat to win four singles matches, which included winning the No. 1-3 flights in singles.

Senior Janelle Prisner, freshman Kelly Iden and junior Sephora Boulbahaiem lost to Briar Preston, Andrea LeBlanc and Dominique McLean, respectively.

Eastern’s two singles victories came from sophomores Ali Foster and Hannah Kimbrough.

Foster defeat Alex Tachovsky in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, while Kimbrough had to win her last two sets to win her match after losing the first set 6-2 to Sandrine Beaule.

Kimbrough finished her match, winning the final two sets 6-2, 6-3.

Hayley Wild picked up the fourth singles win for Morehead State, beating Kamile Stadalninkaite 6-0, 6-1.

Eastern will host its first conference match, which is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Darling Courts against Jacksonville State.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.