April 9, 2008

ELON, N.C. - Elon took advantage of a pair of first-set tie-breaker wins at the No. 2 and No. 4 singles slots and secured the doubles point to hand East Carolina a 5-2 non-conference setback Wednesday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

The Phoenix captured four of six singles events but Oscar Podlewski's 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over Henrique Viana at No. 2 and Alberto Rojas' 7-6 (5), 6-4 triumph over Aleksey Kochetov at No. 4 sparked Elon's singles success and eventual match win.

Elon (14-8) opened play by earning the doubles point after victories by tandems Damon Gooch/Philip Nemec (8-2 over Jaroslav Horvath/Viana) and Podlewski/Mason Schermerhorn (8-4 against Kochetov/Henrik Skalmerud).

East Carolina (13-10) booked its pair of points when Stephen Whitwell defeated Schermerhorn 6-4, 7-5 in a No. 3 position meeting and Skalmerud outlasted Nemec 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at No. 5.

In addition to Podlewski's and Rojas' tallies, Elon also recorded victories at the No. 1 and No. 6 spots when Gooch rolled past Horvath (6-3, 6-2) and Chase Helpingstine handled Bryan Oakley (6-2, 6-3), respectively.

East Carolina will return to action Saturday when it closes out regular season play by traveling to UNC Wilmington for 1 p.m. battle against the Seahawks. The Pirates will then prepare for the 2008 Conference USA Championship Tournament in Dallas April 18-20.

ELON 5, EAST CAROLINA 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Damon Gooch (ELON) def. Jaroslav Horvath (ECU); 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 - Oscar Podlewski (ELON) def. Henrique Viana (ECU); 7-6 (6), 6-2
No. 3 - Stephen Whitwell (ECU) def. Mason Schermerhorn (ELON); 6-4, 7-5
No. 4 - Alberto Rojas (ELON) def. Aleksey Kochetov (ECU); 7-6 (5), 6-4
No. 5 - Henrik Skalmerud (ECU) def. Philip Nemec (ELON); 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
No. 6 - Chase Helpingstine (ELON) def. Bryan Oakley (ECU); 6-2, 6-3
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Gooch/Nemec (ELON) def. Horvath/Viana (ECU); 8-2
No. 2 - Podlewski/Schermerhorn (ELON) def. Kochetov/Skalmerud (ECU); 8-4
No. 3 - Helpingstine/Rojas (ELON) def. Oakley/Whitwell (ECU); 8-4
Team Records: East Carolina 13-10, Elon 14-8