March 13, 2011

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina captured its second-straight victory with a shortened 4-2 win over Coastal Carolina in non-conference women's tennis action at the ECU Tennis Complex Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates, who have also won seven of their last eight overall matches, improved to 12-3 with the triumph. The Chanticleers, who have dropped two of their last three after opening the campaign with a 6-1 mark, fell to 7-3.

Senior Jessica Cook played the role of clincher as her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Lexi Bolesky in a No. 1 singles matchup tallied ECU's fourth and deciding point after earlier teaming with Audrey LePottier to secure the doubles tally. Cook and LePottier's 8-6 win over Bolesky and Mikaela Kristoffersson at No. 1 followed Manon Bissat and Neena Wanko's 9-8 defeat of Maria Hesketh and Dominique DeWit in a No. 3 meeting.

LePottier and Natalie Collins opened singles play with 6-4, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-3 triumphs over Caitlyn Brooksbank and Kristoffersson at No. 4 and No. 3, respectively. After Cook dismissed Bolesky, Coastal Carolina produced its pair of points when Maria Hesketh downed Bissat 7-6, 6-4 at the No. 6 slot and Miki Bunea dispatched Petra Vogel 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2.

The No. 5 meeting between ECU's Neena Wanko and CCU's Diana Mortlock was discontinued in the third set by agreement of both coaches once the Lady Pirates secured the match.

After a brief 2-0 homestand, East Carolina will return to the road for two consecutive matches beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday when it meets the College of Charleston.

EAST CAROLINA 4, COASTAL CAROLINA 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jessica Cook (ECU) def. Lexi Bolesky (CCU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Miki Bunea (CCU) def. Petra Vogel (ECU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Mikaela Kristoffersson (CCU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 - Audrey LePottier (ECU) def. Caitlyn Brooksbank (CCU) 6-4, 6-0
No. 5 - Neena Wanko (ECU) vs. Diana Mortlock (CCU) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (did not finish)
No. 6 - Maria Hesketh (CCU) def. Manon Bissat (ECU) 7-6, 6-4
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Cook/LePottier (ECU) def. Bolesky/Kristoffersson (CCU) 8-6
No. 2 - Collins/Vogel (ECU) def. Bunea/Mortlock (CCU) 7-6 (tie-breaker played at 6-6)
No. 3 - Wanko/Bissat (ECU) def. Hesketh/Dominique DeWit (CCU) 9-8
Team Records: Coastal Carolina 7-3, East Carolina 12-3