ECU Set To Face UCF In C-USA Tourney
April 20, 2010 | Men's Tennis
Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship Central
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina men's tennis squad hopes league success from earlier in the season will help it in the Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship Tournament. The men are set to face UCF for a 5 p.m. match up in Houston, Texas.
Coach Shawn Heinchon led the Pirates to an 18-7 regular season record this spring while UCF ended on a two-match win streak and an overall record of 11-7. During the regular season the Pirates went 2-1 in conference play with a 4-3 win over Tulane and a 4-3 triumph over UAB. UCF dropped its only conference match of the season, 4-3, to host Tulsa.
Ironically, East Carolina dropped a 4-1 decision to Southern Miss, the same team that dismissed the team from the Conference Championships last year in the opening round. UCF hosted last year's tournament but was eliminated by UCF, 4-2 in the quarter finals.
Top singles performers for the Pirates are Freshman John Schmitt, Senior Bryan Oakley and Freshman Massimo Mannino. Schmitt turned in an overall record of 16-8. Oakley posted a 16-5 mark in dual-match play, with most of his wins coming at the No.6 slot. Mannino has been a clutch player for the Pirates at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions with an overall record of 14-7.
Hofstra transfer Stian Tvedt has had much success in doubles with a record of 12-7. Tvedt and partner Henrik Skalmerud are the team's top duo with a record of 7-6. Oakley and Mannino (7-3) make up the second ranked duo. Schmitt when partnered with Jaroslav Horvath and Oakley when partnered with Stephen Whitwell tie for third with a record of 6-3.
Other first-round battles include No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Tulane (2 p.m.) on Thursday, the winner will go on to play No. 1 Tulsa at 8 a.m. followed by No. 4 SMU vs. No. 5 UAB.
