Feb. 21, 2011

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Freshman Manon Bissat rallied back from a first-set deficit to record a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Lourdes Ros in a No. 6 singles match and lift East Carolina to a 4-3 non-conference win over Campbell Monday afternoon at the ECU Tennis Complex.

The triumph was the Lady Pirates' second-straight and improved their spring dual match record to 4-1. Campbell dropped to 3-3 with the loss.

After East Carolina tallied the doubles point, the Lady Pirates extended their lead to 3-0 on straight-set victories by Natalie Collins and Neena Wanko at the No. 5 and No. 6 slots. Collins dispatched Anais Gomar 6-2, 6-1 while Wanko cruised past Natasha Afridi 6-0, 6-2 before the Camels rebounded with wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Karolina Chernaya defeated Petra Vogel 6-3, 7-6 and Borislava Nikolova dismissed Audrey LePottier 6-2, 7-6 that allowed Campbell to cut the margin to one, but also set the stage for Bissat's match-clincher.

Bissat and Wanko also provided ECU with a deciding doubles point after an 8-4 decision over Afridi and Heather Robinson in a No. 3 matchup. Campbell's No. 2 tandem of Chernaya and Nikolova took the opener against Collins and Vogel 8-3 before Cook and LePottier toppled Lisa Sutton and Dominek Wallaart 8-4 at the top position.

East Carolina will open an eight-match roadswing beginning Thursday when it meets Presbyterian at 2:00 p.m. in Clinton, S.C. In fact, the Lady Pirates won't play at home until hosting Conference USA foe Southern Miss on March 11.

EAST CAROLINA 4, CAMPBELL 3
Singles Play
No. 1 - Lisa Sutton (CU) def. Jessica Cook (ECU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 2 - Karolina Chernaya (CU) def. Petra Vogel (ECU) 6-3, 7-6
No. 3 - Borislava Nikolova (CU) def. Audrey LePottier (ECU) 6-2, 7-6
No. 4 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Anais Gomar (CU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 - Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Natasha Afridi (CU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 6 - Manon Bissat (ECU) def. Lourdes Ros (CU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Cook/LePottier (ECU) def. Sutton/Dominek Wallaart (CU) 8-4
No. 2 - Chernaya/Nikolova (CU) def. Collins/Vogel (ECU) 8-3
No. 3 - Bissat/Wanko (ECU) def. Afridi/Heather Robinson (CU) 8-4
Team Records: Campbell 3-3, East Carolina 4-1