UT MARTIN TENNIS ADVANCES TO OVC SEMIFINALS AFTER EXHILARATING 4-3 WIN OVER MURRAY STATE

Friday, April 26

Nashville, Tenn.

10 A.M.

UT Martin

Murray State

UT MARTIN TENNIS ADVANCES TO OVC SEMIFINALS AFTER EXHILARATING 4-3 WIN OVER MURRAY STATE

4/26/2019 4:46:00 PM | Tennis

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference quarterfinal matchup between the No. 6 seeded University of Tennessee at Martin and No. 3 seed Murray State came down to the final point, as the Skyhawks came out on top in a 4-3 thriller at Hadley Park.

UT Martin (6-11) notched its 26^th all-time OVC Tournament triumph behind a complete effort, as all six active Skyhawks tallied a win on the day. All-OVC first teamer Asel Jumamukhambetova secured a pair of wins today, including the clinching point at No. 1 singles (6-2, 3-6, 6-4).

"This was a very physical, hard-fought match," UT Martin head coach Dennis Taylor said. "I know that every team is tired and probably injured at this time of year so you just have to go out there and put those aside and play. We've talked these last few weeks about staying in the moment – just playing the next point. Our girls did that and they toughened up at the end."

The Skyhawks began the match by obtaining the crucial doubles point thanks to wins at No. 1 and No. 2. In the top slot, Jumamukhambetova and Jemima Potter made short work of the opposition, winning 6-2. At No. 2, Daphne Pratt and Mizuki Sakurai fell behind early but generated a 7-5 comeback win to give UT Martin the early 1-0 advantage.

"The doubles point was so important," Skyhawk head coach Dennis Taylor said. "It's always been key for us to get off to a good start and if we would have lost that, this may have been a totally different story. After you play a couple hours of singles, you may forget how important that was but that ended up being the difference."

Andrea Plantada claimed UT Martin's first singles win, defeating her counterpart by a 6-3, 6-3 margin at No. 5. Murray State (12-9) emerged victorious over the next two singles decisions to take a 3-2 lead but the resilient Skyhawks wouldn't quit.

Amelia Campbell was responsible for her second consecutive gritty win, as she once again fought through cramps to come out on top at No. 4 (6-2, 6-7, 6-4). With the match knotted at 3-all, UT Martin didn't have to wait long to celebrate. Approximately two minutes later, Jumamukhambetova put the finishing touches on the win with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 decision to give the Skyhawks their first OVC Tournament win since April 23, 2016.

UT Martin is right back at it on Saturday, April 27 when it takes on No. 2 seed Jacksonville State in Hadley Park at 10 a.m. The Skyhawks have won five of the last eight matchups against the Gamecocks but Jacksonville State won this year's regular season matchup by a 6-1 margin on April 11.