CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (11-4, 4-0 OVC) overcame Murray State (7-7, 3-1 OVC), 4-3, to improve to 4-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play Wednesday at the Redhawks Tennis Complex.
 
SEMO extended its win streak to seven matches to stay perfect in the league.
 
Ksenia Shikanova posted doubles and singles wins Wednesday while Romana Tarajova, Kseniya Zonova, Lera Valeeva, Daniela Hlacikova and Vivian Lai each compiled wins. 
 
The Redhawks secured the doubles point for the seventh straight match to open their dual with OVC rival, Murray State.
 
SEMO earned wins at the top two slots for the point. Tarajova and Zonova defeated Sarah Bureau and Sara Loncarevic, 6-1. Gabrielle Geolier and Anja Loncarevic then edged Hlacikova and Velkoska, 6-3, at no. 3 doubles to have the middle position break the deadlock.
 
Shikanova and Valeeva then overcame Stasya Sharapova and Marit Kreugel, 6-4.
 
For both SEMO's first and second doubles teams, that was their fifth straight victories in 2021.
 
The Racers evened the match at 1-1 at the sixth slot when Geolier beat Valeeva, 6-1, 6-4.
 
Lai then cruised past Anja Loncarevic, 6-4, 6-2, at no. 5 singles to pull the lead back in favor of SEMO. With the win, Lai improved to 11-3 in 2021 with her seventh straight victory.
 
Sara Loncarevic then beat Tarajova, 7-6, 6-2, at the top position to retie the match at 2-2.
 
SEMO secured the dual victory with consecutive decisions at the second and fourth singles slots.
 
Shikanova outlasted Kreugel, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, before Hlacikova won her no. 2 singles match in a second set tiebreaker.
 
Hlacikova, a freshman from Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, improved to 12-1 this campaign with her sixth straight win. She fought past Sharapova, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9) to seal the Redhawks victory.
 
Sarah Bureau then overcame Zonova, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, at no. 3 singles to conclude the match.
 
Wednesday's dual match with the Racers was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 3 but was rescheduled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Murray State program.
 
SEMO will stay in Cape Girardeau to take on Jacksonville State (8-7, 3-1 OVC) Saturday at the Redhawks Tennis Complex on Senior Day. First serve is set for 1 p.m., CT. The Redhawks will recognize seniors Kseniya Zonova and Maja Lundell at the final home dual in 2021.