Oct. 7, 2009

NORFOLK, Va. - The East Carolina men's tennis team continued its fall training with participation in the Old Dominion Collegiate Invitational this past weekend. Led by a MSC-1 flight title from freshman Massimo Mannino, the Pirates picked up eight singles victories and two doubles triumphs.

Mannino made his way to the MSC-1 final, dispatching Daniel Mihalov of William and Mary (6-1, 6-1), Giancarlo Lemmi from Liberty (5-7, 6-2, 1-0 [4]) and Stephen Hardy of James Madison (6-2, 7-5) before topping the Flames' Ben Wirth in straight-sets in the championship (6-0, 6-3).

Two other ECU athletes reached the semifinals of their respective flights as senior Bryan Oakley defeated Alfredo Rodriguez of Old Dominion (6-2, 7-5) and Richard Blumenfeld from George Washington (6-4, 6-4) while junior Henrik Skalmerud turned away Kevon Charles of Morgan State (6-1, 6-4) and C.J. Williams from VCU (4-6, 6-2, 1-0 [4]).

In doubles play, Mannino and Skalmerud dropped their first match to the Rams' Kritzian Krocsko and Filip Svensson (9-7) before rebounding in the consolation draw to down Juan Ortiz and Mauricio Ortiz of Morgan State (8-3). The Pirate duo then earned a bye into the semifinals where they fell to Lubos Sobotka and Davy Sum from Campbell by a slim 8-6 margin.

East Carolina makes the short trip to Chapel Hill for its next competition, taking part in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) regional tournament. The event is scheduled for Oct. 16-19 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Stadium.