Eastern’s women’s tennis team might have lost both of their conference matches last weekend, but the team showed unity, grit and a refusal to give up in their last home match of the 2019 fall season.

Against Austin Peay, the Panthers would fall to the undefeated Governors 7-0.

The Panthers came back and fought hard against Murray State University, and despite a 6-1 win the Panthers last four singles matches all came down to three sets.

Sophomore Rachel Papavasilopoulos lost her first set at the number one single slot. In the second set, Papavasilopoulos defeated Claire Chang in two 6-2 sets.

Sophomore Karla Contreras added to the Panthers’ refusal to give up at the number five singles slot. Contreras would lose her first set to Sara Loncarevic 6-2. Contreras would win the second set 6-3 to even the match. Contreras would compete hard in her last home set, but Loncarevic won the last set 6-4.

The team and the spectators were able to watch senior Abby Carpenter and Srishti Slaria play the last two matches at Darling Courts this fall and their last two matches as Panthers that would both finish in three sets.

Slaria at the number two singles slot split the first two sets against Stasya Sharapova.

In the last set Sharapova defeated Slaria in a 6-4 set.

Carpenter was the last Panther to finish her single match that went to three sets against Murray State. Carpenter would fight for every point at the number four singles slot and ultimately took the third set to a first to get seven points to win.

Carpenter lost her match but was proud of herself at the end of the day no matter the result.

“I will remember my last home match forever; it was the perfect day, and I couldn’t imagine ending it any other way,” Carpenter said. “My team and coaches all came together and made the day so special for me, and it’s something I couldn’t be more grateful for.”

The Panthers currently sit at fifth place in the OVC standings with a conference record of 2-4 and an overall record of 11-9.

The last two conference matches of the season for the Panthers come against the sixth and eighth place team.

Southeast Missouri currently sits in sixth place with a conference record of 2-4 and an overall record of 9-9. Tennessee-Martin sits in eighth place with a conference record of 1-5 and an overall record of 2-11.

The Panthers have to finish within the top six in order to play in the OVC tournament April 26.

“We are all going to put in the extra time this week to make sure we can get wins this weekend,” Carpenter said. “We are looking to finish the regular season strong and qualify for the OVC tournament.”

Blake Faith can be reached at 581-2812 or bmfaith@eiu.edu