March 16, 2006

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- The East Carolina women's tennis squad captured 12 consecutive singles sets and combined on a 24-4 doubles ledger during a 7-0 non-conference victory over Gardner-Webb Thursday afternoon at the Webb Tennis Center.

The shutout victory was the second straight and third in the last four matches for the Lady Pirates (12-5). The loss lowered the Lady Bulldogs' dual match record to 1-12.

In singles action, top-seeded freshman Anca Dumitru opened play with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Jenny Gomez while Mireia Gol followed with a 6-0, 6-0 rout against Amy Beavers at the No. 2 position.

Senior Kirstin Buchanan, who was playing at the No. 3 slot for only the second time this season, put together a 6-0, 6-2 win over Sara Zirnheld while sophomore Luiza Borges rolled past Monica Walser 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4.

In the closest match of the day, freshman Logan Beam put away Krystina Sigmon 6-2, 7-5 in a fifth-flight matchup after freshman Presley Thomas cruised past Tracey Tonsor 6-1, 6-4 at No. 6.

The Lady Pirates enjoyed a strong start, taking all three of the doubles events in decisive fashion to garner the opening point. An 8-0 victory by Gillie Bailey/Buchanan at the No. 1 position over GWU's Sigmon/Walser followed a similar 8-0 blanking by the tandem of Borges/Gol over Beavers/Zirnheld at No. 2 to garner the tally. Dumitru and Thomas teamed up to dispose of Gomez and Carol Pancia 8-4 to close out the pairs action.

East Carolina will conclude its three-match road swing when it meets Davidson Friday at 3:00 p.m.

EAST CAROLINA 7, GARDNER-WEBB 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Anca Dumitru (ECU) def. Jenny Gomez (GWU); 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 - Mireia Gol (ECU) def. Amy Beavers (GWU); 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 - Kirstin Buchanan (ECU) def. Sara Zirnheld (GWU); 6-0, 6-2
No. 4 - Luiza Borges (ECU) def. Monica Walser (GWU); 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 - Logan Beam (ECU) def. Krystina Sigmon (GWU); 6-2, 7-5
No. 6 - Presley Thomas (ECU) def. Tracey Tonsor (GWU); 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Gillie Bailey/Buchanan (ECU) def. Sigmon/Walser (GWU); 8-0
No. 2 - Borges/Gol (ECU) def. Beavers/Zirnheld (GWU); 8-0
No. 3 - Dumitru/Thomas (ECU) def. Gomez/Carol Pancia (GWU); 8-4
Team Records: East Carolina (12-5), Gardner-Webb (1-12)