March 12, 2006

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina coasted to a 6-1 men's tennis non-conference victory over North Carolina A&T Sunday afternoon at the ECU Tennis Complex.

The win improved ECU's record to 6-8 and dropped the Aggies to 8-8.

The Pirates got off to a strong start by sweeping doubles play to earn the first point of the match. Nick Rose and Aleksey Kochetov teamed to defeat Damon Martin and Porter Myrick 8-3 in the No. 1 competition while the No. 2 duo of Ricardo Barone and Brian Walters triumphed 8-3 against the Aggies' brother tandem of Jared and Jeremy Martin. Britton Steele and Henrique Viana closed out doubles play by posting an 8-3 win against Quincy Hawley and Vitas Hawley.

ECU followed the great start by taking all but one match in singles play, which included a hard-fought 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3) victory at No. 2 by Kochetov over Jeremy Martin. Barone, the Pirates' No. 3 performer, took care of Jared Martin in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, and Rose followed at No. 4 with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Myrick. At No. 5, Walters knocked off Vitas Hawley 6-0, 7-6 (5) while Steele took care of Quincy Hawley 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 matchup.

The Aggies logged their only victory of the afternoon when Damon Martin rallied past Viana 4-6, 7-6 (3) 1-0 (15) at the No. 1 slot.

The Pirates will be in action again March 15 when they travel to Florida for a meeting against the Jacksonville Dolphins.

EAST CAROLINA 6, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Damon Martin (NCAT) def. Henrique Viana (ECU); 4-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (15)
No. 2 - Aleksey Kochetov (ECU) def. Jeremy Martin (NCAT); 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3)
No. 3 - Ricardo Barone (ECU) def. Jared Martin (NCAT); 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Nick Rose (ECU) def. Porter Myrick (NCAT); 6-2, 6-0
No. 5 - Brian Walters (ECU) def. Vitas Hawley (NCAT); 6-0, 7-6 (5)
No. 6 - Britton Steele (ECU) def. Quincy Hawley (NCAT); 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Kochetov/Rose (ECU) def. D. Martin/Myrick (NCAT); 8-3
No. 2 - Barone/Walters (ECU) def. Ja. Martin/Je. Martin (NCAT); 8-3
No. 3 - Steele/Viana (ECU) def. Q. Hawley/V. Hawley (NCAT); 8-3
Team Records: East Carolina (6-8), North Carolina A&T (8-8)