The Eastern women’s tennis team continue to have a successful season winning all three of their matches over spring break to improve to 3-0 for Ohio Valley Conference play and an overall record of 8-3 for the season.

Women’s tennis coach John Blackburn is happy with how prepared the team was and how they began their conference matches for the season.

“I think we’ve done a good job of being ready for whatever comes to us,” Blackburn said. “OVC teams use some tactics that we don’t see as much in non-conference play, and we’ve done a pretty good job of dealing with that so far.”

The Panthers began OVC play against Tennessee State University on March 13 in Clarksville, Tenn. winning 5-0 by obtaining all points in single matches.

The Panthers were able to get 6-0, 6-0 wins in singles from junior Ali Foster, freshman Grace Summers, senior Sephora Boulbahaiem and junior Hannah Kimbrough.  Sophomore Maria Moshteva won her match by forfeit and sophomore Kamile Stadalninkaite was unable to finish her match.

The team continued their conference matches on Friday facing Austin Peay State University in Charleston winning 5-2.

The Panthers were able to get four points from singles matches with wins from Foster, Summers, Boulbahaiem and Stadalninkaite.

The team was also able to obtain the doubles point with wins from the No. 1 doubles Summers and Boulbahaiem and the No. 2 doubles pair of Foster and Kimbrough. The No. 3 doubles pair of sophomore Kelly Iden and Stadalninkaite were unable to finish their match.

The success continued on Saturday when the Panthers faced Murray State University in Charleston winning a close match of 4-3.

The Panthers were able obtain all four of their points through singles matches with wins from Iden, Foster, Summers and Kimbrough.

The team was not able to obtain the doubles point but did get a win at the No. 3 spot from Iden and Stadalninkaite.

Blackburn was satisfied with the way the team competed over the weekend against Austin Peay and Murray State.

“We gave a gritty, determined effort this weekend,” Blackburn said. “There were some periods of very strong play, but I think the team’s overall mental approach and resiliency was the biggest key.”

Even with the continued success the team has had thus far, the Panthers are always looking for ways to improve to be ready for their next match.

“We are always trying to learn from the last match and use it as road map for how to improve the next time out,” Blackburn said. “I think we’ve been making some progress in a lot of areas, but I don’t think we have peaked yet which is exciting for us but also a challenge to try and get there.”

With only seven matches left in the season until the OVC tournament, one match being a postponed event against Belmont with a date that has yet to be determined, the Panthers are ready and looking forward to the rest of the season.

With the three wins over spring break, the team will use those victories as motivation to guide them through their matches in OVC play.

“I think everyone is excited about the results from this past weekend,” Blackburn said. “We will definitely try to approach it as a confidence boost and motivation to try to perform at an even higher level.”

Chris Picazo can be reached at 581-2812 or cepicazo@eiu.edu.