March 1, 2011

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Sophomore Petra Vogel fought back back from a first-set deficit to record a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Hannah Fick in a No. 2 singles match and lift East Carolina to a 4-3 non-conference win over Liberty Tuesday afternoon at the LU Tennis Courts.

The triumph was the Lady Pirates' third-straight and improved their spring dual match record to 8-2. Liberty fell to 4-5 after its home-opening 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 Audrey LePottier at the No. 3 and No. 4 slots. Collins downed Cameron Richard 6-2, 7-5 while LePottier earned a 7-5, 6-4 decision against Alexandra Sheeran before the Flames rallied back with three-set wins of their own in the No. 6, No. 1 and No. 5 positions. Annisha Domenech defeated Manon Bissat 1-6, 6-0, 6-1 and Jordan Jenkinks dismissed Jessica Cook 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, before Carol Lobel outlasted Neena Wanko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to even the score and set up Vogel's match-clincher.

The freshman tandem of Bissat and Wanko provided ECU with a deciding doubles point after an 8-6 decision over Fick and Rebekah Jenkins in a No. 3 matchup. Liberty's No. 1 pair, Jenkins and Richard, took the opener against Cook and LePottier 8-3 before Collins and Vogel toppled Lobel and Sheeran 8-4 at the No. 2 position.

East Carolina will return to action Friday when it travels to Elon to meet the Phoenix in a non-conference match scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

EAST CAROLINA 4, LIBERTY 3
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jordan Jenkins (LU) def. Jessica Cook (ECU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
No. 2 - Petra Vogel (ECU) def. Hannah Fick (LU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Cameron Richard (LU) 6-2, 7-5
No. 4 - Audrey LePottier (ECU) def. Alexandra Sheeran (LU) 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 - Carol Lobel (LU) def. Neena Wanko (ECU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 - Annisha Domenech (LU) def. Manon Bissat (ECU) 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Jenkins/Richard (LU) def. Cook/LePottier (ECU) 8-3
No. 2 - Collins/Vogel (ECU) def. Lobel/Sheeran (LU) 8-4
No. 3 - Bissat/Wanko (ECU) def. Fick/Rebekah Jenkins (LU) 8-6
Team Records: East Carolina 8-2, Liberty 4-5