April 20, 2012

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - East Carolina's season came to an end as the Lady Pirates dropped a 4-0 decision to top-seeded Tulsa in the quarterfinal round of the Conference USA Women's Tennis Championship Tournament Friday afternoon at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.

The Golden Hurricane (20-3), owners of a current 10-match win streak and ranked No. 26 nationally in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll, will advance to the semifinals where they will meet host Memphis Saturday. Eighth-seeded ECU closed out its season with a 10-16 record.

Tulsa promptly extended a 1-0 lead after doubles play by capturing three singles meetings in convincing two-set fashion. Michelle Farley and Bonny Davidson cruised to 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-3 victories over Abby Richmond and Dana Gray at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, respectively. Anastasia Erofeeva followed with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat of Natalie Collins at No. 1 moments later to clinch the team triumph.

Since tournament format policy dictates the stoppage of play once a team clinches its fourth point, the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles matches featuring Renata Bakieva, Danielle Terpko and Yilian Zhang were halted.

Davidson and Samantha Vickers teamed up for an 8-3 win over Gray and Neena Wanko to open pairs action at No. 2 while Farley and Maria Sant'Anna secured the tally by topping Bakieva and Collins 8-5 at the No. 3 slot.

Friday's loss marked the third time in the last five years that Tulsa has eliminated ECU in the quarterfinal round of the league's postseason tourney.

No. 1 TULSA 4, No. 8 EAST CAROLINA 0
Singles Play
No. 1 - Anastasia Erofeeva (TLS) def. Natalie Collins (ECU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 - Samantha Vickers (TLS) vs. Renata Bakieva (ECU) 7-5, 1-0, unfinished
No. 3 - Ewa Szatkowska (TLS) vs. Danielle Terpko (ECU) 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
No. 4 - Isaura Enrique (TLS) vs. Yilian Zhang (ECU) 6-2, 2-3, unfinished
No. 5 - Michelle Farley (TLS) def. Abby Richmond (ECU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 - Bonny Davidson (TLS) def. Dana Gray (ECU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Erofeeva/Szatkowska (TLS) def. Terpko/Zhang (ECU) 8-4
No. 2 - Davidson/Vickers (TLS) def. Gray/Neena Wanko (ECU) 8-3
No. 3 - Farley/Maria Sant'Anna (TLS) def. Bakieva/Collins (ECU) 8-5
Team Records: East Carolina 10-16, Tulsa 20-3