MARTIN, Tenn. - With the match tied 3-3 and one singles competition left, The University of Tennessee at Martin freshman Anna Winkelmann stepped up to the challenge and produced a come-from-behind victory at No. 3 singles over Eastern Kentucky to give the Skyhawks their third straight win of the season. UT Martin is now 8-4 overall and 5-1 in Ohio Valley Conference matches.

The doubles point also came down to the last match, as Eastern Kentucky's Anouk Faure and Anais Hamel defeated Jodie Tiley and Alice Laing 8-6 at No. 1. With their backs against the wall, the Skyhawks rallied. Winkelmann and Herbold defeated Myriem Mhirit and Catarina Branco 9-7 at No. 3. Martie Wahl and Belisa de Brito then took care of business at No. 2, downing Jessica Albuquerque and Alyze Pagal 8-6 to allow UT Martin to receive the coveted doubles point - which would loom huge in the final result.

The singles play featured back-and-forth results all the way through. Mhirit defeated Tiley 7-5, 6-2 at No. 1 to open singles play, but Wahl responded with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Albuquerque at No. 2. Herbold fell to Branco 6-4, 6-1 at No. 6, but Skyhawk freshman Johanie Van Zyl came up with a comeback win at No. 4 by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Hamel defeated de Brito 7-6 (4), 6-2 at No. 5 to tie the score at 3-all and set the scene for the showdown at No. 3. Winkelmann improved to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in league play with her 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win over Faure.

It was quite a weekend for head coach Dennis Taylor and his Skyhawks, who defeated Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky (combined 10-2 in OVC play heading into the matches) in a little over a 24-hour span.

"We did not play that well today, but the girls just kept fighting for every point they could get," Taylor said. "All I can say is we won without our 'A' game. To be a good team you have to do that sometimes."

While Winkelmann's match result ultimately won the match for UT Martin, Taylor was also impressed with another freshman who produced a clutch victory.

"The match came down to Anna (Winkelmann) and Johanie having to win in the third sets and they did," Taylor said. "They were the heroes today."

The Skyhawks now have a busy week that will conclude the regular season. The team will travel to Jacksonville State and Murray State on Tuesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 8, before returning home for their Senior Day activities against Southeast Missouri on Friday, April 9. Two days later, the regular season will end with a home match against future OVC member SIU Edwardsville.


Eastern Kentucky vs UT Martin
Apr 03, 2010 at Martin, Tenn.
(Skyhawk Varsity Courts)

UT Martin 4, Eastern Kentucky 3

Singles competition
1. MHIRIT, Myriem (EKU) def. TILEY, Jodie (UTMW) 7-5, 6-2
2. WAHL, Martie (UTMW) def. ALBUQUERQUE, Jessica (EKU) 6-2, 6-2
3. WINKELMANN, Anna (UTMW) def. FAURE, Anouk (EKU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
4. VAN ZYL, Johanie (UTMW) def. PAGAL, Alyze (EKU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
5. HAMEL, Anais (EKU) def. de BRITO, Belisa (UTMW) 7-6 (4), 6-2
6. BRANCO, Catarina (EKU) def. HERBOLD, Anna Marie (UTMW) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. FAURE, Anouk/HAMEL, Anais (EKU) def. TILEY, Jodie/LAING, Alice (UTMW) 8-6
2. WAHL, Martie/de BRITO, Belisa (UTMW) def. ALBUQUERQUE, Jessica/PAGAL, Alyze (EKU) 8-6
3. WINKELMANN, Anna/HERBOLD, Anna Marie (UTMW) def. MHIRIT, Myriem/BRANCO, Catarina (EKU) 9-7

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,6,4,5,3)

#SKYHAWKS#


STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Freshman Anna Winkelmann used a three set victory at No. 3 singles to give the Skyhawks their third straight win with a 4-3 triumph over Eastern Kentucky.