Spring Break
Tennis teams notch non-conference wins
Staff Reports
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Sports
Men's
ECU ran its season-opening record to a perfect 4-0 with a 6-0 victory over Norfolk State in a shortened non-conference match at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center Saturday morning.
The Spartans dropped to 0-2 after the contest, which did not include doubles play because of a time allotment on the availability of the facility.
The Pirates recorded straight-set triumphs in five of the six singles matchups, surrendering only a combined 13 points in the last five positions. ECU's Jaroslav Horvath endured the toughest match of the morning, needing three sets to fight past Miroslav Vlcek 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 in the No. 1 slot.
In other high-seed action, Stephen Whitwell posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Arsenio Culver at No. 2 and Denis Ermilov defeated Peter Krakora 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3. Henrik Skalmerud (6-1, 6-0), Bryan Oakley (6-0, 6-0) and Dave Masciorini (6-1, 6-1) earned victories in the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 matchups, respectively, to complete the team triumph.
The Pirates will open their 2009 home schedule Saturday, Feb. 14 with a split doubleheader against Appalachian State (1:30 p.m.) and Barton College (5 p.m.).
Women's
ECU used three-set singles victories at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to break a 2-2 deadlock and roll to a season-opening 5-2 non-conference win over Elon Saturday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
After Paige Kensrue evened the match by turning in Elon's only singles win with a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Varinia Soler at the No. 2 slot, ECU used three consecutive three-set decisions by Natalie Collins, Tamara Sachs and Rocio Cabanillas to take control and capture the victory. Collins handed Melissa Wolf a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 4 to begin the rally before Sachs tallied a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Graybill at No. 6 and Cabanillas outlasted Sally Wilkey 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 at the No. 5 position.
Brooke Walter clinched ECU's first point of the afternoon with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Elisa Simonetti at No. 3 before Jessica Cook gave the Lady Pirates a brief 2-1 edge by dispatching Anna Milian 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 slot.
The Phoenix (2-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead by picking up the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Collins and Sachs prevented the sweep however, earning an 8-6 win over Whitney Butcher and Simonetti at No. 3 prior to singles play.
The Lady Pirates will open their 2009 home schedule Friday, Feb. 13 with a split doubleheader against Coastal Carolina (1 p.m.) and North Carolina Central (5 p.m.).
ECU ran its season-opening record to a perfect 4-0 with a 6-0 victory over Norfolk State in a shortened non-conference match at the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center Saturday morning.
The Spartans dropped to 0-2 after the contest, which did not include doubles play because of a time allotment on the availability of the facility.
The Pirates recorded straight-set triumphs in five of the six singles matchups, surrendering only a combined 13 points in the last five positions. ECU's Jaroslav Horvath endured the toughest match of the morning, needing three sets to fight past Miroslav Vlcek 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 in the No. 1 slot.
In other high-seed action, Stephen Whitwell posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Arsenio Culver at No. 2 and Denis Ermilov defeated Peter Krakora 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3. Henrik Skalmerud (6-1, 6-0), Bryan Oakley (6-0, 6-0) and Dave Masciorini (6-1, 6-1) earned victories in the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 matchups, respectively, to complete the team triumph.
The Pirates will open their 2009 home schedule Saturday, Feb. 14 with a split doubleheader against Appalachian State (1:30 p.m.) and Barton College (5 p.m.).
Women's
ECU used three-set singles victories at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to break a 2-2 deadlock and roll to a season-opening 5-2 non-conference win over Elon Saturday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.
After Paige Kensrue evened the match by turning in Elon's only singles win with a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Varinia Soler at the No. 2 slot, ECU used three consecutive three-set decisions by Natalie Collins, Tamara Sachs and Rocio Cabanillas to take control and capture the victory. Collins handed Melissa Wolf a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 4 to begin the rally before Sachs tallied a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Graybill at No. 6 and Cabanillas outlasted Sally Wilkey 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 at the No. 5 position.
Brooke Walter clinched ECU's first point of the afternoon with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Elisa Simonetti at No. 3 before Jessica Cook gave the Lady Pirates a brief 2-1 edge by dispatching Anna Milian 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 slot.
The Phoenix (2-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead by picking up the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Collins and Sachs prevented the sweep however, earning an 8-6 win over Whitney Butcher and Simonetti at No. 3 prior to singles play.
The Lady Pirates will open their 2009 home schedule Friday, Feb. 13 with a split doubleheader against Coastal Carolina (1 p.m.) and North Carolina Central (5 p.m.).
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