Lady Pirates Ace UAB In C-USA Opener, 5-2

March 13, 2008

SAN JUAN, P.R. - East Carolina rallied back after dropping the doubles point to win five of six singles matches and post a 5-2 Conference USA victory over UAB Thursday afternoon at the Palmas Del Mar Resort.

With the triumph, the Lady Pirates improved to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference play while the Blazers fell to 7-2 and 0-1.

After Giorgia Romeo turned in UAB's only singles win by defeating Hannah Priest 6-0, 7-5 at the No. 6 slot, East Carolina quickly took control of the match by rolling off five straight victories. ECU's Mireia Gol handed Antonia Nugent a 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 3 to begin the rally before Brooke Walter posted a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Jenny Cape at No. 4, Luiza Borges dispatched Seden Soyalp 6-4, 7-6 at No. 5 and Jessica Cook outlasted Evelien Strijker 5-7, 7-6, 1-0 at the No. 1 position.

In addition, Varinia Soler jumped out to an early lead against Gulsah Esen with a 7-5 first set win in the No. 2 matchup before earning a default decision (retirement).

The Blazers claimed a 1-0 edge, picking up the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 slots. Soler and Priest prevented the sweep however, earning an 8-6 win over Esen and Romeo to move their spring tandem record to 6-3.

East Carolina, ranked No. 68 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Poll, will close out its four-match road swing Wednesday by traveling to Spartanburg, S.C., and playing Wofford in a non-conference matchup beginning at 2 p.m.

No. 68 EAST CAROLINA 5, UAB 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jessica Cook (ECU) def. Evelien Strijker (UAB); 5-7, 7-6, 1-0
No. 2 - Varinia Soler (ECU) def. Gulsah Esen (UAB); 7-5, retired
No. 3 - Mireia Gol (ECU) def. Antonia Nugent (UAB); 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 - Brooke Walter (ECU) def. Jenny Cape (UAB); 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 - Luiza Borges (ECU) def. Seden Soyalp (UAB); 6-4, 7-6
No. 6 - Giorgia Romeo (UAB) def. Hannah Priest (ECU); 6-0, 7-5
DoublesPlay
No. 1 - Nugent/Strijker (UAB) def. Alex Smith/Walter (ECU); 8-2
No. 2 - Priest/Soler (ECU) def. Esen/Romeo (UAB); 8-6
No. 3 - Cape/Soyalp (UAB) def. Borges/Gol (ECU); 8-3
Team Records: UAB 7-2, 0-1; East Carolina 12-2, 1-0

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