NASHVILLE - Austin Peay State University women's tennis team easily handled UT Martin in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, 4-1, Friday, at the Centennial Sportsplex.
The Skyhawks (4-14, 4-5 OVC) came out strong, winning at No. 1 doubles. The team of Helena Kuppig and Ana Albertson responded, coming from behind to win at No. 2 doubles, but the Skyhawks won at No. 3 doubles to take a 1-0 lead into singles.
The Govs started out as perfectly as one can in singles, as every player won the first set of her match. OVC Player of the Year Lidia Yanes Garcia evened the match up at one with a straight set victory at No. 1 singles. After a rough first couple games, Claudia Yanes Garcia responded by blowing out her opponent in the second set, 6-0, as the Govs took the lead. Not even a minute after Claudia's win, it was OVC Freshman of the Year Fabienne Schmidt's turn to celebrate, as she also won in straight sets to give the Govs a 3-1 lead. Kuppig took control in the second set of her match and then she watched a ball fly out of bounds on match point to assure the Govs were moving on.
The win assures senior Brittney Covington at least one more match as a Gov. Covington won the first set of her match, but was trailing 3-2 in the second. The Govs now take on Murray State in the OVC Semifinals, 2 p.m., Saturday, for a spot in the OVC Championship. The Racers defeated the Govs 5-2 two weeks ago.
Austin Peay 4, UT Martin 1
Doubles
1. JUMAMUKHAMBETOVA, A./POTTER, Jemima (UTM) def. SCHMIDT, Fabienne/YANES GARCIA, C. (APSU) 6-1
2. KUPPIG, Helena/ALBERTSON, Ana (APSU) def. BURAK, Olha/SAKURAI, Mizuki (UTM) 6-4
3. PLANTADA, Andrea/CAMPBELL, Amelia (UTM) def. YANES GARCIA, L/COVINGTON, Brittney (APSU) 6-4
Singles
1. YANES GARCIA, L (APSU) def. JUMAMUKHAMBETOVA, A. (UTM) 6-1, 6-2
2. YANES GARCIA, C. (APSU) def. POTTER, Jemima (UTM) 6-1, 6-0
3. SCHMIDT, Fabienne (APSU) def. PLANTADA, Andrea (UTM) 6-2, 6-2
4. KUPPIG, Helena (APSU) def. BURAK, Olha (UTM) 7-5, 6-2
5. ALBERTSON, Ana (APSU) vs. SAKURAI, Mizuki (UTM) 6-4, 3-1, unfinished
6. COVINGTON, Brittney (APSU) vs. GEUT, Elina (UTM) 6-3, 2-3, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (1, 3, 2, 4)
