Redhawks win, stay in race for OVC tourney berth

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's tennis team won its third consecutive match and remained alive for a berth in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament Wednesday with a 6-1 win at Austin Peay.

Southeast, continuing its best season since 1997, improved to 11-11 overall and 3-6 in OVC play. The Redhawks end the regular season Friday with a 2 p.m. home match against Eastern Illinois.

The top six finishers in the 11-team OVC qualify for the tournament. Southeast is in a battle with Jacksonville State and Morehead State for the sixth and final spot.

Morehead State is currently sixth at 4-4, with matches remaining against two of the league's better teams, while Jacksonville State is done with its conference schedule at 4-6. Southeast will be favored against Eastern Illinois.

"I'm very proud of them," Southeast coach Jay Pacelli said. "We've won three in a row and we're at least making things interesting in regard to the conference tournament, to perhaps get into a tiebreaker."

SOUTHEAST 6, AUSTIN PEAY 1

Singles

1. Bryce Kristal (S) def. Elizabeth Whelpley 6-0,6-0

2. Jessica Hawk (A) def. Drew Kristal 6-4, 6-4

3. Julia Masotti (S) def. Isabel Rzezniczek 6-1, 6-1

4. Luz Garcia (S) def. Alana Carere 6-2, 6-1

5. Julia Negosek (S) def. MacKenzie Kurth 6-4, 6-0

6. Kimmy Anderson (S) def. Virginia Penner 6-1, 6-3

Doubles

1. Kristal-Kristal (S) def. Rzezniczek-Hawk 8-4

2. Masotti-Negosek (S) def. Kurth-Whelpley 8-5

3. Garcia-Morgan Kemp (S) def. Carere-Penner 8-7 (7-5)