Feb. 6, 2013

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina women's tennis squad captured all six singles matches, five in straight sets, and garnered the doubles point to post a 7-0 non-conference victory over UNC Asheville Wednesday afternoon at the ECU Tennis Complex.

The triumph, which also served as the Pirates' second-straight at home, improved ECU's overall spring dual match record to 2-1. The Bulldogs had their two-match win streak snapped and fell to 3-2.

ECU's No. 1 tandem of freshman Nicole LaDuca and junior Neena Wanko ran their doubles mark to 3-0 this season with an 8-7 decision over Zoe Hamel and Ericka Rivero that broke a 1-1 pairs deadlock and clinched the Pirates' first tally. Sophomore Dana Gray and junior Melis Tanik answered an early UNCA victory at No. 3 by outlasting Christine Boissevain and Emily McNall 8-7 in a No. 2 meeting.

East Carolina turned in a strong singles effort, notching straight-set triumphs at the top four and the No. 6 slots. Wanko (6-2, 7-5 at No. 1), Yilian Zhang (6-1, 6-2 at No. 2), Tanik (7-6, 6-1 at No. 3), LaDuca (6-4, 6-4 at No. 4) and Abby Richmond (6-1, 6-1 at No. 6) all cruised to victories, while Danielle Terpko rallied back for a 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4) victory over Amryn Soldier at the No. 5 spot.

The Pirates will compete in the first of three scheduled doubleheaders this season by traveling to Greensboro on Saturday to face North Carolina A&T (10 a.m.) and Winston-Salem State (3 p.m.).

EAST CAROLINA 7, UNC ASHEVILLE 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Zoe Hamel (UNCA) 6-2, 7-5
No. 2 - Yilian Zhang (ECU) def. Emily McNall (UNCA) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 - Melis Tanik (ECU) def. Ericka Rivero (UNCA) 7-6, 6-1
No. 4 - Nicole LaDuca (ECU) def. Christine Boissevain (UNCA) 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 - Danielle Terpko (ECU) def. Amryn Soldier (UNCA) 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4)
No. 6 - Abby Richmond (ECU) def. Gillian Lewis (UNCA) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - LaDuca/Wanko (ECU) def. Hamel/Rivero (UNCA) 8-7 (7-5)
No. 2 - Dana Gray/Tanik (ECU) def. Boissevain/McNall (UNCA) 8-7 (7-1)
No. 3 - Lewis/Soldier (UNCA) def. Terpko/Zhang (ECU) 8-4
Team Records: UNC Asheville 3-2, East Carolina 2-1