April 10, 2010

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina men's tennis team used a doubles point and five singles wins to post a 6-1 non-conference victory over Presbyterian at the ECU Tennis Complex Saturday afternoon, improving their spring record to 18-5.

ECU took an early 1-0 advantage after winning all three doubles bouts. Jaroslav Horvath and Massimo Mannino rolled past Andrew Brigham and Matt Martin 8-5 at No. 1 before Bryan Oakley and Stephen Whitwell knocked off Ed Snead and Zach Sprouse by a similar score of 8-5 at No. 2. East Carolina used an 8-6 victory by Henrik Skalmerud and Stian Tvedt over Ivan Ho and James Zaher to capture the No. 3 matchup.

Skalmerud started the Pirates off with a solo win at No. 4, cruising past Ivan Ho 6-1, 6-0, while Mannino defeated Sprouse 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3.

At No. 6, Oakley clinched East Carolina's team victory when he downed Snead 6-2, 6-1 before Horvath added a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Brigham at No. 2 and John Schmitt handled Zaher 7-5, 6-2 at the fifth position.

Martin turned in Presbyterian's only triumph of the afternoon by rallying past Whitwell 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 in the No. 1 matchup.

East Carolina will return to action tomorrow at noon for a matchup with the UNC Wilmington Seahawks.

EAST CAROLINA 6, PRESBYTERIAN 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Matt Martin (PC) def. Stephen Whitwell (ECU); 5-7, 6-3, 1-0(7)
No. 2 - Jaroslav Horvath (ECU) def. Andrew Brigham (PC); 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 - Massimo Mannino (ECU) def. Zach Sprouse (PC); 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 - Henrik Skalmerud (ECU) def. Ivan Ho (PC); 6-1, 6-0
No. 5 - John Schmitt (ECU) def. James Zaher (PC); 7-5, 6-2
No. 6 - Bryan Oakley (ECU) def. Ed Snead (PC); 6-2, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Jaroslav Horvath/Massimo Mannino (ECU) def. Andrew Brigham/Matt Martin (PC); 8-5
No. 2 - Bryan Oakley/Stephen Whitwell (ECU) def. Ed Snead/Zach Sprouse (PC); 8-5
No. 3 - Henrik Skalmerud/Stian Tvedt (ECU) def. Ivan Ho/James Zaher (PC); 8-6
Team Records: Presbyterian 5-15, East Carolina 18-5