Lady Pirates Take Opener At Elon 5-2

Feb. 7, 2009

ELON, N.C. - East Carolina used three-set singles victories at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to break a 2-2 deadlock and roll to a season-opening 5-2 non-conference win over Elon Saturday afternoon at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

After Paige Kensrue evened the match by turning in Elon's only singles win with a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Varinia Soler at the No. 2 slot, East Carolina used three consecutive three-set decisions by Natalie Collins, Tamara Sachs and Rocio Cabanillas to take control and capture the victory. Collins handed Melissa Wolf a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss at No. 4 to begin the rally before Sachs tallied a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Laura Graybill at No. 6 and Cabanillas outlasted Sally Wilkey 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 at the No. 5 position.

Brooke Walter clinched ECU's first point of the afternoon with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Elisa Simonetti at No. 3 before Jessica Cook gave the Lady Pirates a brief 2-1 edge by dispatching Anna Milian 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 slot.

The Phoenix (2-3) jumped out to a 1-0 lead by picking up the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Collins and Sachs prevented the sweep however, earning an 8-6 win over Whitney Butcher and Simonetti at No. 3 prior to singles play.

The Lady Pirates will open their 2009 home schedule Friday, Feb. 13 with a split doubleheader against Coastal Carolina (1:00 p.m.) and North Carolina Central (5:00 p.m.).

EAST CAROLINA 5, ELON 2
Singles Play
No. 1 - Jessica Cook (ECU) def. Anna Milian (ELON); 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Paige Kensrue (ELON) def. Varinia Soler (ECU); 7-6, 6-4
No. 3 - Brooke Walter (ECU) def. Elisa Simonetti (ELON); 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Melissa Wolf (ELON); 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Rocio Cabanillas (ECU) def. Sally Wilkey (ELON); 7-6, 4-6, 1-0
No. 6 - Tamara Sachs (ECU) def. Laura Graybill (ELON); 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Kensrue/Milian (ELON) def. Cook/Soler (ECU); 9-8
No. 2 - Daleen Kloppers/Wolf (ELON) def. Cabanillas/Walter (ECU); 8-5
No. 3 - Collins/Sachs (ECU) def. Whitney Butcher/Simonetti (ELON); 8-6
Team Records: East Carolina 1-0, Elon 2-3

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