April 3, 2010

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The East Carolina men's tennis team had a five-match win streak halted when it dropped the doubles point and three of four singles matches in a 4-1 conference loss against Southern Miss Saturday afternoon at the Goldring Tennis Center.

With the victory, the Golden Eagles improved to 8-10 while the Pirates fell to 17-5.

Senior Stephen Whitwell claimed the lone victory for ECU at the No. 2 spot, posting a 6-2, 6-3 win over Diego Machuca.

In other singles action, Jaroslav Horvath fell to Patricio Alvarado 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1, Massimo Mannino took a 7-6, 6-2 loss to Jan Burmeister and John Schmitt dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Julien Rousse at No. 4.

Southern Miss used 8-5 and 8-4 doubles triumphs by the tandems of Patricio Alvarado and Strate Krstevski along with Jan Burmeister and Julien Roussel, respectively, to open the match with a 1-0 lead. The No. 2 doubles match went unfinished.

The Pirates will return home Presbyterian on Saturday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m.

SOUTHERN MISS 4, EAST CAROLINA 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Patricio Alvarado (USMM) def. Jaroslav Horvath (ECU); 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 - Stephen Whitwell (ECU) def. Diego Machuca (USMM); 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 - Jan Burmeister (USMM) def. Massimo Mannino (ECU); 7-6, 6-2
No. 4 - Julien Roussel (USMM) def. John Schmitt (ECU); 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 - Henrik Skalmerud (ECU) vs. Oscar Machuca (USMM); 3-6, 7-6 , 2-1 (unfinished)
No. 6 - Bryan Oakley (ECU) vs. Strate Krstevski (USMM) 4-6, 6-3, 3-3 (unfinished)
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Burmeister/Roussel (USMM) def. Horvath/Skalmerud (ECU); 8-4
No. 2 - Mannino/Oakley (ECU) vs. D. Machuca/O. Machuca (USMM); 4-6 (unfinished)
No. 3 - Alvarado/Krstevski (USMM) def. Schmitt/Whitwell (ECU); 8-5
Team Records: East Carolina 17-5, Southern Miss 8-10