March 26, 2010

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Behind the strength of a doubles sweep and five singles victories, East Carolina men's squad posted a 6-1 win over Limestone Friday afternoon at the ECU Tennis Complex.

The Pirates dropped just one game in 12 singles sets while posting a combined 24-12 mark in three doubles events. ECU (14-4) opened the match by capturing the doubles point against the Saints (5-6). Tandems Pablo Nunez Palmieri and Nathaniel Smiley led off with an 8-2 triumph over Nicholas Shumate and Jordan Vicain at No.3 before Jaroslav Horvath and Stephen Whitwell won the point with an 8-4 decision over Henrik Nordquist and Miguel Lopez at the No.1 slot. Massimo Mannino and Bryan Oakley (No. 2) closed out doubles action with an 8-6 win over Paulo Avila and Mike Stephenson.

ECU took the first five singles matches before hitting a skid in the No. 1 matchup. Horvath defeated Mike Stephenson 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 and Nunez Palmieri raced past Paulo Avila 6-2, 6-2 at No.3. John Schmitt knocked off Jordan Vicain 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 while Oakley posted a 6-3, 6-1 over Henrik Nordquist at No. 5 and Ely Khoury (No. 6) defeated Nicholas Shumate 6-1, 6-0 to finish out the match.

Nationally raked Miguel Lopez Zuniga would be the only Saint to score with a 6-3 and 7-6 win over Whitwell in the No.1 singles match.

The Pirates will return to action Sunday by hosting George Washington at 12:00 p.m. at the ECU Tennis Complex.

EAST CAROLINA 6, LIMESTONE 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Miguel Lopez Zuniga (LIME) def. Stephen Whitwell (ECU); 6-3, 7-6(5)
No. 2 - Jaroslav Horvath (ECU) def. Mike Stephenson (LIME); 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 - Pablo Nunez Palmieri (ECU) def. Paulo Avila (LIME); 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - John Schmitt (ECU) def. Jordan Vicain (LIME); 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Bryan Oakley (ECU) def. Henrik Nordquist (LIME);6-3, 6-1
No. 6 - Ely Khoury (ECU) def. Nicholas Shumate (LIME); 6-1, 6-0
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Horvath/Whitwell (ECU) def. Nordquist/Lopez Zuniga (LIME); 8-4
No. 2 - Massimo Mannino/Oakley (ECU) def. Avila/Stephenson (LIME); 8-6
No. 3 - Nunez Palmieri/Nathaniel Smiley (ECU) def. Shumate/Vicain (LIME); 8-2
Team Records: Limestone 5-6, ECU 14-4

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