March 4, 2011

ELON, N.C. - East Carolina secured the doubles point and used five singles wins, including a trio in three-set fashion after an opening-game defeat, to capture its sixth road victory of the season with a 6-1 non-conference triumph over Elon Friday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

The Lady Pirates (9-2) enjoyed a strong start, taking the first two doubles matches to garner the opening point. An 8-3 victory by freshmen Manon Bissat and Neena Wanko at the No. 3 position over Elon's Briana Berne and Andrea Pont Grau was followed by a similar 8-3 win by the tandem of Jessica Cook and Audrey LePottier over Jordan Johnston and Viviana Stavreva at No. 1 to secure the tally.

Natalie Collins started East Carolina off in singles play with a victory at No. 3, cruising past Frida Jansaker 6-4, 6-2, while Cook defeated Johnston 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1.

Bissat clinched ECU's team victory at No. 6 when she downed Pont Grau 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 before Wanko added a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 decision over Berne at No. 5 and Audrey LePottier dismissed Stavreva 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 at the fourth position. Bryn Khoury tallied Elon's (4-7) only triumph of the afternoon by outlasting Petra Vogel 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in a No. 2 matchup.

The Lady Pirates will be back in action Saturday when they travel to UNC Asheville for an 11 a.m. first serve.

EAST CAROLINA 6, ELON 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jessica Cook (ECU) def. Jordan Johnston (ELON) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 2 - Bryn Khoury (ELON) def. Petra Vogel (ECU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
No. 3 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Frida Jansaker (ELON) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 - Audrey LePottier (ECU) def. Viviana Stavreva (ELON) 7-6, 6-3
No. 5 - Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Briana Berne (ELON) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 - Manon Bissat (ECU) def. Andrea Pont Grau (ELON) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Cook/LePottier (ECU) def. Johnston/Stavreva (ELON) 8-3
No. 2 - Jansaker/Khoury (ELON) def. Collins/Vogel (ECU) 8-7
No. 3 - Bissat/Wanko (ECU) def. Berne/Pont Grau (ELON) 8-3
Team Records: East Carolina 9-2, Elon 4-7