March 24, 2006

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The East Carolina women's tennis squad won for the sixth time in its last eight matches by opening Conference USA play with a 6-1 victory over Memphis Friday afternoon at the Myrtle Beach City Tennis Complex.

The Lady Pirates improved their spring record to 14-6 while Memphis dropped to 3-7 and remained winless in league play at 0-2.

East Carolina's top-flight doubles pair of seniors Gillie Bailey and Kirstin Buchanan, who currently hold a No. 48 national rank in the FILA/Collegiate Tennis ratings, opened play with an 8-2 win over Andrea Feichtinger and Alex Tjioe. Anca Dumitru and Presley Thomas followed with an 8-5 decision over Kristin Noble and Christina Wieser at the No. 2 position to clinch the Lady Pirates' first point of the match.

Bailey and Buchanan also provided a strong start for ECU in singles play, recording 1-6, 6-0, 6-1 and 7-6, 6-3 wins over Brooke Cowie and Noble at the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, respectively. Luiza Borges added a 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Ekin Zafir at No. 4, Presley Thomas enjoyed a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Wieser at No. 5 and Hannah Priest closed out the Lady Pirates' success by cruising past Tjioe 6-1, 6-0 in a No. 6 matchup. The Tigers posted their only singles win of the day by using Feichtinger's 6-3, 6-1 decision over Dumitru at No. 1.

East Carolina will close out its brief two-match C-USA neutral site schedule by meeting UAB Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

EAST CAROLINA 6, MEMPHIS 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Andrea Feichtinger (UM) def. Anca Dumitru (ECU); 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 - Gillie Bailey (ECU) def. Brooke Cowie (UM); 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 - Kirstin Buchanan (ECU) def. Kristin Noble (UM); 7-6, 6-3
No. 4 - Luiza Borges (ECU) def. Ekin Zafir (UM); 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 - Presley Thomas (ECU) def. Christina Wieser (UM); 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 - Hannah Priest (ECU) def. Alex Tjioe (UM); 6-1, 6-0
Doubles Play
No. 1 - No. 48 Bailey/Buchanan (ECU) def. Feichtinger/Tjioe (UM); 8-2
No. 2 - Dumitru/Thomas (ECU) def. Noble/Wieser (UM); 8-5
No. 3 - Flavia Russo/Zafir (UM) def. Zandy Overcash/Alex Smith (ECU); 8-6
Team Records: Memphis (3-7, 0-2), East Carolina (14-6, 1-0)