March 8, 2011

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Memphis tallied the doubles point and added four straight-set singles victories to down East Carolina, 5-2, in the Conference USA women's tennis opener for both teams Tuesday morning at Patriots Point.

The setback snapped a five-match win streak and dropped the Lady Pirates' spring record to 10-3. The Tigers improved to 6-6 with the neutral site triumph.

Memphis claimed the opening point by using doubles victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 slots as Courtney Collins and Kelly Gray defeated Jessica Cook and Audrey LePottier 8-4, and Andrea Arques-Garcia and Stefanie Mikesz produced an 8-5 win over Manon Bissat and Neena Wanko. Natalie Collins and Petra Vogel helped East Carolina halt the sweep by closing out pairs action with an 8-6 decision over Kathleen Hawkins and Mariya Slupska at No. 2.

In singles play, LePottier cruised past Gray 6-0, 6-2 in a No. 4 matchup for a 1-1 deadlock before the Lady Pirates and Tigers earned split results at the No. 1 and No. 5 slots where Courtney Collins dismissed Cook 6-2, 6-0 and Wanko eased past Hawkins 6-2, 6-2, respectively.

Memphis captured the final three points with consecutive two-set triumphs at the No. 2, No. 6 and No. 3 singles positions. Slupska rolled past Vogel 6-2, 6-2, Arques-Garcia topped Bissat 6-3, 6-2 and Mikesz survived a tough opening set before outlasting Natalie Collins 7-5, 6-1 to secure the team victory.

After completing an eight-match road swing with a 6-2 mark, East Carolina will finally return to Greenville for the first time since Feb. 21 when it hosts Southern Miss Friday in another C-USA battle. First serve is set for 2 p.m. at the ECU Tennis Complex.

MEMPHIS 5, EAST CAROLINA 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Courtney Collins (MEM) def. Jessica Cook (ECU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 - Mariya Slupska (MEM) def. Petra Vogel (ECU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 - Stefanie Mikesz (MEM) def. Natalie Collins (ECU) 7-5, 6-1
No. 4 - Audrey LePottier (ECU) def. Kelly Gray (MEM) 6-0, 6-2
No. 5 - Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Kathleen Hawkins (MEM) 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 - Andrea Arques-Garcia (MEM) def. Manon Bissat (ECU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Collins/Gray (MEM) def. Cook/LePottier (ECU) 8-4
No. 2 - Collins/Vogel (ECU) def. Hawkins/Slupska (MEM) 8-6
No. 3 - Arques-Garcia/Mikesz (MEM) def. Bissat/Wanko (ECU) 8-5
Team Records: Memphis 6-6, 1-0; East Carolina 10-3, 0-1