PADUCAH, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team came up just short against Austin Peay in the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference championship match Sunday afternoon, 4-2. The Colonels conclude the year 14-16 overall.

The pivotal doubles point came down to a tie-breaker at No. 1 doubles. Austin Peay’s Mariana Pagan and Vanja Tomic held off senior Anais Hamel and freshman Jessica Albuquerque in the breaker, 7-3.

In singles, the fifth-seeded Colonels were only able to secure victories from freshman Catarina Branco (No. 4) and Hamel (No. 5). Hamel, the team’s lone senior, was trying to help Eastern Kentucky earn its second straight trip to the NCAA tournament.

Instead, Austin Peay’s Carolin Weikard clinched the team victory for the Lady Govs with a three-set triumph over Albuquerque at No. 2 singles.

Austin Peay, now 18-3 overall, will move on to the NCAA tournament beginning on May 14.

2010 OVC Championships – Finals
#2 Austin Peay 4, #5 Eastern Kentucky 2

Singles
1. Vanja Tomic (APSU) def. Myriem Mhirit (EKU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Carolin Weikard (APSU) def. Jessica Albuquerque (EKU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Mariana Pagan (APSU) vs. Anouk Faure (EKU) DNF
4. Catarina Branco (EKU) def. Michelle Liew (APSU) 6-3, 7-6 (5)
5. Anais Hamel (EKU) def. Demi Georgakopoulos (APSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Yuki Nakamura (APSU) def. Alyze Pagal (EKU) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles
1. Pagan/Tomic (APSU) def. Albuquerque/Hamel (EKU) 9-8 (3)
2. Nakamura/Weikard (APSU) def. Faure/Pagal (EKU) 8-0
3. Branco/Mhirit (EKU) def. Georgakopoulos/Liew (APSU) 8-6

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (14-16); Austin Peay (18-3)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1); Singles (1, 5, 6, 4, 2*)