Pirate Men, Women Split Tennis Matches at Elon
March 11, 2003 | Women's Tennis
In the women's competition, Elon made its mark early but was unable to hold off the Lady Pirates, who came back after losing the doubles point to sweep in singles.
The Phoenix (1-4) stunned ECU in doubles action by claiming wins at number one and three. Kelly Fleck and Jennifer Fulmer battled Lyndall Jordan and Raluca Baicu and came out on top, 9-8. ECU rebounded back to take the number two doubles with Paulina Sierpinski and Kirstin Buchanan leading the way over Melissa Holland and Elizabeth Kernodle, 8-4. Aubrey Rhoads and Cassie Martin led Elon to its final win of the day as they defeated Emily Kohl and Cristina Meilicke, 8-4.
East Carolina (6-4) swept the Phoenix in singles action. At number one, Buchanan and Fleck went three sets before the Lady Pirates' number one forged the win, 3-6, 6-3, 10-6. Fulmer fell, 6-0, 6-2, to Baicu at number two, Jordan dropped Kernodle, 6-1, 6-1 at number three, Holland was defeated, 1-6, 6-4, 7-2, at number four and Rhoads fell, 6-1, 6-1, to Kohl at number five. ECU's Meilicke ended singles play as she posted a 6-4, 6-3, win over Martin.
ECU's men split the singles matches but was unable to capture the doubles point.
The Phoenix (7-2) number one doubles team of Pramote Malasitt and Richard Dutton put Elon on the board first as they defeated Charl Meyer and Brad Sullivan, 8-4. ECU's number two pair overcame a tough battle against Nathan Lefevre and Mikael Houlst as the Pirates' Nick Rose and Paulo Baumer won, 9-7. Thomas Rohof and Justin Roberson's win at the third slot, 8-6, over ECU's Felipe Fonseca and Edward Cooper, was enough to give Elon the early advantage.
East Carolina (3-6) split singles play with Elon by winning the points at the three, five and six spots. Malasitt blasted past Meyer, 6-1, 6-1, at the number one and Lefevre recovered from his doubles loss to take out Sullivan, 6-4, 6-3, at the two. Baumer and Houslt battled it out in a three-set thriller (7-6, 5-7, 6-4 ) as ECU walked away with the victory. Rohof fought past Cooper at number four, 6-3, 7-5. The Pirates posted victories at numbers five (Fonseca over Roberson 1-6, 6-4, 6-4) and six (Rose defeated Dutton 6-3, 3-6, 6-1).
"Our girls played well after a slow start in doubles," ECU head coach Tom Morris said. "Our guys also started slow and never quite got into it. We did play well in the back of the lineup and had some chances to win the doubles point at number three. We had some great points, but did not play well after tying it up at 6-6. We are not playing the critical points like we need to be doing."
ECU's men continue on the road and will play at Conference USA rival Charlotte on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Lady Pirates, meanwhile, will return to Greenville to host Mount Olive on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
