Jan. 20, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. - The East Carolina men's tennis squad opened its spring season by capturing a pair of wins in three matches at the Virginia Commonwealth 4-1 Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Thalhimer Tennis Center.

The Pirates won six of eight singles matches and split the doubles point in victories against James Madison (3-1) and Georgetown (4-1) before suffering a 5-0 sweep against a nationally-ranked East Tennessee State team.

In the opener against the Dukes, freshmen Bryan Oakley and Samuel McSpadden triumphed in their debut with 6-4, 6-1 and 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 wins over Mike Smith and Carlin Campbell at the No. 3 and No. 4 slots, respectively. Fellow rookie Matt Peeler and sophomore Aleksey Kochetov earned the doubles point by cruising past JMU's Brian Clay and Brian Rubenstein (6-2, 6-1).

The Pirates took all four singles matches against the Hoyas as Kochetov rolled past Will Lowell (7-5, 6-3) at No. 1, Henrique Viana outlasted Anthony Tan (6-0, 7-6) at No. 2, Oakley defeated Ted Tywang (6-4, 6-2) at No. 3 and Peeler edged Etienne Paris (6-3, 7-6) at No. 4. Georgetown picked up the doubles point by handing Brian Walters and Stephen Whitwell a 6-1, 6-2 setback.

McSpadden turned in East Carolina's top effort against East Tennessee State Saturday morning, pushing the Bucs' Daniel Isaza to a third set before falling 6-1, 5-7, 10-8.

East Carolina will return to action next Sunday when it travels to William & Mary for a 6:00 p.m. match against the Tribe in Williamsburg, Va.

EAST CAROLINA 3, JAMES MADISON 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Henrique Viana (ECU) led Jesse Tarr (JMU); 6-7 (8), 6-4, 4-1
No. 2 - John Snead (JMU) def. Brian Walters (ECU); 6-4, 6-0
No. 3 - Bryan Oakley (ECU) def. Mike Smith (JMU); 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 - Samuel McSpadden (ECU) def. Carlin Campbell (JMU); 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Matt Peeler/Aleksey Kochetov (ECU) def. Brian Clay/Brian Rubenstein (JMU); 6-2, 6-1
Team Records: East Carolina 1-0, James Madison 0-1

EAST CAROLINA 4, GEORGETOWN 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Aleksey Kochetov (ECU) def. Will Lowell (GU); 7-5, 6-3
No. 2 - Henrique Viana (ECU) def. Anthony Tan (GU); 6-0, 7-6 (8)
No. 3 - Bryan Oakley (ECU) def. Ted Tywang (GU); 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 - Matt Peeler (ECU) def. Etienne Paris (GU); 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Jeff Schnell/Kevin Walsh (GU) def. Brian Walters/Stephen Whitwell (ECU); 6-1, 6-2
Team Records: East Carolina 2-0, Georgetown 1-1

EAST TENNESSEE STATE 5, EAST CAROLINA 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Aleksey Kochetov (ECU); 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 - Sebastian Serrano (ETSU) def. Henrique Viana (ECU); 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 - Lisandro Picardo (ETSU) def. Bryan Oakley (ECU); 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Daniel Isaza (ETSU) def. Samuel McSpadden (ECU); 6-1, 5-7, 10-8
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Alex Ahlgren/Travis Sandlant (ETSU) def. Matt Peeler/Brian Walters (ECU); 6-2, 6-3
Team Records: East Carolina 2-1, East Tennessee State 1-0