UT MARTIN TENNIS SEALS OVC TOURNAMENT BID WITH CAPTIVATING 4-3 WIN OVER EASTERN ILLINOIS

Sunday, April 21

Martin, Tenn.

3 P.M.

UT Martin

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Kevin Weaks/Union City Messenger

UT MARTIN TENNIS SEALS OVC TOURNAMENT BID WITH CAPTIVATING 4-3 WIN OVER EASTERN ILLINOIS

4/21/2019 10:33:00 PM | Tennis

Results PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. – With today's tennis match knotted at 3-all and an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berth on the line, University of Tennessee at Martin sophomore Amelia Campbell dug deep for a heroic effort to help send the Skyhawks to the postseason with a 4-3 win over Eastern Illinois.

Playing at No. 4, Campbell won the first set by a 7-5 margin before experiencing leg cramps in a 4-6 loss in the second stanza. During an excruciating third set, Campbell began feeling hand cramps in addition to her leg cramps and was at the point where her range of motion was severely limited. Going on sheer will and adrenaline, Campbell managed to not only finish the match but mustered enough on an underhand serve that was returned into the net for a 7-6 win that will send UT Martin to Music City for the OVC Tournament.

To earn the trip to the postseason, the Skyhawks had to hold off a feisty Eastern Illinois squad (11-11, 2-6 OVC) in a winner-take-all matchup. Daphne Pratt and Mizuki Sakurai earned a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles but the Panthers managed victories at No. 1 and No. 3 to claim the early 1-0 lead.

Things looked bleak after Eastern Illinois won the top two singles matchups but UT Martin soon seized control. Sakurai dialed up a convincing 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 6 while Andrea Plantada pieced together a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 5. Pratt tallied a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 3 to set up Campbell's heroics, as the sophomore from London, England displayed one of the gutsiest performances in recent Skyhawk memory.

UT Martin enters the 2019 OVC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and will be pitted against No. 3 seed Murray State in the quarterfinal round. The Skyhawks and Racers will play at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 26 at Hadley Park in Nashville, Tenn.