March 15, 2013

CLINTON, S.C. - Behind the strength of an early doubles point and five singles victories, East Carolina halted a two-match slide by posting a 6-1 non-conference women's tennis triumph over Presbyterian Friday afternoon at the Templeton Tennis Center.

The Pirates (8-4) used an 8-2 win by Dana Gray and Danielle Terpko over Caroline deLoach and Kayla Stanford in a No. 3 doubles matchup before Nicole LaDuca and Neena Wanko recorded an 8-1 victory at No. 1 over Patricia Alves and Courtney Gardiner to secure an early 1-0 lead.

In singles play, ECU recorded straight-set wins at the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 slots to account for the 6-1 final. LaDuca opened the action by defeating Stanford 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 before Yilian Zhang and Melis Tanik netted 6-2, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-3 triumps at No. 3 and No. 2 over Gardiner and Alves, respectively. In addition, Terpko handed deLoach a 6-4, 6-3 setback in a No. 4 battle, while Abby Richmond cruised past Lucia Leahy 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6.

The Blue Hose (6-8) tallied their only point of the afternoon when Greer Ransom dismissed Wanko 6-3, 6-3 in a No. 1 meeting.

The Pirates will wrap up their three-day road swing by facing Furman on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.

No. 72 EAST CAROLINA 6, PRESBYTERIAN 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Greer Ransom (PC) def. Neena Wanko (ECU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 - Melis Tanik (ECU) def. Patricia Alves (PC) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 - Yilian Zhang (ECU) def. Courtney Gardiner (PC) 6-2, 6-0
No. 4 - Danielle Terpko (ECU) def. Caroline deLoach (PC) 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 - Nicole LaDuca (ECU) def. Kayla Stanford (PC) 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 - Abby Richmond (ECU) def. Lucia Leahy (PC) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - LaDuca/Wanko (ECU) def. Alves/Gardiner (PC) 8-1
No. 2 - Tanik/Zhang (ECU) vs. Haley Elliott/Ransom (PC) 4-4, did not finish
No. 3 - Dana Gray/Terpko (ECU) def. deLoach/Stanford (PC) 8-2
Team Records: East Carolina 8-4, Presbyterian 6-8