The Eastern women’s tennis team opened its fall match play, defeating Southern Indiana 7-0 on Saturday at the Charleston High School courts.

The Panthers won their six single’s matches in straight sets and also won their three double’s matches.

Senior Janelle Prisner won her single’s match at the No. 1 singles spot, defeating Morgan Coquerille 6-2, 6-2.

Prisner also won her doubles match, teaming up with junior Sephora Boulbahaiem. The duo beat Elizabeth Wilm and Brenna Wu 8-0.

Boulbahaiem won her singles match 6-1, 6-1, beating Wilm in the No. 2 singles slot. 

A pair of Panther freshmen won their singles matches as Kelly Iden and Kamile Stadalninkaite defeated Wu and Kymberly Brannon 6-1, 6-1 and 6-0, 7-5, respectively.

Stadalninkaite also won her doubles match as she paired up with sophomore Hannah Kimbrough. 

Director of tennis John Blackburn said he was pleased with the duo’s play on Saturday.

“I was particularly happy with the way Kimbrough and Stadalninkaite both finished their doubles match,” he said in a press release. 

Kimbrough added a win in the No. 6 position at singles with a 6-1, 7-5 win against Alyssa Hoover.

Eastern’s Ali Foster won at No. 4 singles, taking down Elizabeth Skinner 6-1, 6-3. 

Blackburn said the doubles portion of the match set the tone for the day.

“I was pleased with the way we came out in doubles and played with the right style of play,” he said.

The Eastern win came after the Panthers played at the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Fall Invite on Sept. 13-14.

At the tournament, Prisner walked away with the No. 1 singles title, defeating her counterparts from Evansville and Southern Illinois before winning the championship against a Butler opponent.

Blackburn said it was a great start to the season, but that there is still room for improvement.

“We also know we have a lot to work on, as a good team gets significantly better between its first and second matches of the semester,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn said he saw improvement on Saturday from the singles play.

“In singles, we improved on some important things from last weekend, which is a step forward for us,” he said.

Adding to her singles title in Edwardsville, Prisner won the No. 1 doubles title with Boulbahaeim. The pair first defeated Evansville’s doubles team 9-8 after winning a 7-3 tiebreaker. Then Prisner and Boulbahaeim beat Southern Illinois and Butler 8-1 to claim the championship.

Blackburn said Prisner was a leader during the tournament.

“Janelle played very strong tennis in the big moments this weekend, which is what you look for in a senior,” Blackburn said. “She provided strong leadership this weekend.”

The Eastern men’s team began its fall action as the Panthers competed at the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Fall Invite this past weekend.

Sophomores Ryan Henderson and Rui Silva, who both finished with 3-1 records at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively paced the Panthers in Edwardsville.

Fellow sophomore Robert Skolik paired up with senior Kevin Bauman at No. 1 doubles and went 2-1, losing to the host Cougars.

Freshman Grant Thompson and transfer Moritz Kandt also went 2-1 during the doubles play at the No. 4 spot.

Overall the men’s squad went 12-12 in singles play and 5-4 in doubles.

Eastern’s coach Eric Stark said he was happy with the weekend’s play.

“The team really came together and supported one another and fed off each other,” Stark said in a press release. 

Stark said the doubles teams played very well and could be one of the best doubles team in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“We took some big steps forward and are excited in the direction we are heading,” he said. “I was especially impressed with the way we played doubles. We were full of energy and aggressive play and believe we will have one of the strongest doubles teams in the OVC.”

The men’s team will play Missouri-St. Louis at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in St. Louis, while the women’s team’s next action will be at the Southern Illinois Invite, starting on Sunday in Carbondale.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].