March 15, 2006

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Lady Pirates captured straight-set wins in five of six singles matches and decisively tallied the doubles point as East Carolina rolled to a 7-0 non-conference victory over North Carolina A&T Wednesday afternoon at the Aggies Tennis Complex.

The shutout improved ECU's spring dual match record to 11-5 while the Lady Aggies dropped to 5-8 on the season.

Senior Gillie Bailey and freshman Logan Beam both recorded 6-0, 6-0 triumphs at the No. 1 and No. 5 singles positions, respectively, while sophomore Hannah Priest, freshman Presley Thomas and sophomore Zandy Overcash also added straight-set victories. Priest defeated Christina Ruffin (6-1, 6-3) at No. 2, Thomas cruised past Deandra Bailey (6-2, 6-3) at No. 3 and Overcash earned a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Tammy Martin at No. 6.

The Lady Aggies' only threat was mounted by Tracy Ross in a No. 4 matchup, but ECU sophomore Alex Smith rebounded from an opening set loss to post a 6-7, 6-0, 10-7 win.

The Lady Pirates quickly gained control of the match by gaining the opening doubles point with three successive victories. East Carolina's top-seeded tandem of Bailey/Kirstin Buchanan handed Kathryn Jackson/Ruffin an 8-2 loss before the pairs of Beam/Thomas and Priest/Smith followed with similar 8-3 victories over Bailey/Ross and Martin/Pittman.

East Carolina will continue its three-match road swing when it meets Gardner-Webb Thursday morning in Boiling Springs, N.C.

EAST CAROLINA 7, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Gillie Bailey (ECU) def. Kathryn Jackson (NCAT); 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Hannah Priest (ECU) def. Christina Ruffin (NCAT); 6-1, 6-3
No. 3 - Presley Thomas (ECU) def. Deandra Bailey (NCAT); 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 - Alex Smith (ECU) def. Tracy Ross (NCAT); 6-7, 6-0, 10-7
No. 5 - Logan Beam (ECU) def. Shannon Pittman (NCAT); 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 - Zandy Overcash (ECU) def. Tammy Martin (NCAT); 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Bailey/Buchanan (ECU) def. Jackson/Ruffin (NCAT); 8-2
No. 2 - Beam/Thomas (ECU) def. Bailey/Ross (NCAT); 8-3
No. 3 - Priest/Smith (ECU) def. Martin/Pittman (NCAT); 8-3
Team Records: East Carolina (11-5), N.C. A&T (5-8)