March 11, 2009

Box Score

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - East Carolina used four singles wins, three coming in convincing fashion, and the doubles point to post a 5-2 non-conference neutral site men's tennis victory over James Madison Wednesday afternoon.

The win improved the Pirates' record to 11-1 and extended ECU's win streak to seven while the Dukes fell to 2-9.

East Carolina opened the match by sweeping doubles play and jumping out to a 1-0 lead. Bryan Oakley and Stephen Whitwell defeated Matt King and Yaroslav Voznenko 8-2 at the No. 3 flight before Aleksey Kochetov and Henrik Skalmerud handed Jared Robinson and Brian Rubenstein an 8-5 loss at No. 2 to clinch the tally.

The Pirates continued their strong play in the singles competition, winning four of six matches. Skalmerud rolled past Rubenstein (6-0, 6-2) at No. 4 and Jaroslav Horvath defeated Robinson (6-2, 6-0) at No. 1 before Kochetov and Whitwell added 6-3, 6-3 and 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 victories over Ville Maaranen and Mike Smith at No. 5 and 2, respectively.

The Dukes' pair of triumphs came at the No. 3 and No. 6 positions as Tommi Nissinen dismissed Denis Ermilov 6-4, 6-3 and Voznenko fought past Oakley 7-5, 6-2.

The Pirates will return to Myrtle Beach Sunday when they will face off against Coastal Carolina in a match scheduled to begin at 12 noon.

EAST CAROLINA 5, JAMES MADISON 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jaroslav Horvath (ECU) def. Jared Robinson (JMU); 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 - Stephen Whitwell (ECU) def. Mike Smith (JMU); 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (5)
No. 3 - Tommi Nissinen (JMU) def. Denis Ermilov (ECU); 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 - Henrik Skalmerud (ECU) def. Brian Rubenstein (JMU); 6-0, 6-2
No. 5 - Aleksey Kochetov (ECU) def. Ville Maaranen (JMU); 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 - Yaroslav Voznenko (JMU) def. Bryan Oakley (ECU); 7-5 (2), 6-2
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Ermilov/Horvath (ECU) def. Nissinen/Smith (JMU); 8-7 (5)
No. 2 - Kochetov/Skalmerud (ECU) def. Robinson/Rubenstein (JMU); 8-5
No. 3 - Oakley/Whitwell (ECU) def. Matt King/Voznenko (JMU); 8-2
Team Records: James Madison 2-9, East Carolina 11-1