March 21, 2009

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte rallied back after dropping the doubles point to win five of six singles matches and post a 5-2 non-conference victory over East Carolina Saturday morning at the Phillips Tennis Complex.

The loss dropped the Lady Pirates' record to 10-4 while the 49ers improved to 9-3 this spring.

After Brooke Walter turned in ECU's only singles win by defeating Gabi Vergara 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 slot, Charlotte quickly took control of the match by rolling off five straight victories. The 49ers' Kimber Redfern handed Tamara Sachs a 6-2, 6-2 loss at No. 6 to begin the rally before Candace Cunningham posted a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Rocio Cabanillas at No. 5 and Koren Fleming dispatched Varinia Soler 7-6, 6-3 at No. 2.

Yudeshnee Pillay and Andrea Rivera each needed three sets to get past Jessica Cook (6-3, 4-6, 6-3) and Natalie Collins (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions, respectively.

The Lady Pirates claimed an early 1-0 edge, picking up the doubles point with identical 8-4 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 slots as Cook and Soler joined Collins and Sachs as tandem victors.

East Carolina will continue its seven-match road swing Tuesday when it meets Richmond at 2:00 p.m. before facing Liberty a day later in Lynchburg, Va.

CHARLOTTE 5, EAST CAROLINA 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Yudeshnee Pillay (UNCC) def. Jessica Cook (ECU); 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
No. 2 - Koren Fleming (UNCC) def. Varinia Soler (ECU); 7-6, 6-3
No. 3 - Andrea Rivera (UNCC) def. Natalie Collins (ECU); 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 - Brooke Walter (ECU) def. Gabi Vergara (UNCC); 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 - Candace Cunningham (UNCC) def. Rocio Cabanillas (ECU); 6-3, 7-5
No. 6 - Kimber Redfern (UNCC) def. Tamara Sachs (ECU); 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Cook/Soler (ECU) def. Pillay/Ana Spivakovsky (UNCC); 8-4
No. 2 - Julia Junker/Rivera (UNCC) def. Cabanillas/Walter (ECU); 9-8
No. 3 - Collins/Sachs (ECU) def. Fleming/Vergara (UNCC); 8-4
Team Records: East Carolina 10-4, Charlotte 9-3