East Carolina University
College of Charleston Invitational
Vogel Leads Pirates In First Fall Tournament
September 21, 2010 | Women's Tennis
Sept. 21, 2010
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Sophomore Petra Vogel reached the final of the A2 Flight to lead the East Carolina women's tennis team at the College of Charleston Invitational last weekend at the Tennis Center at Patriots Point.
The Lady Pirates produced 20 singles wins and seven doubles triumphs in their first fall competition.
Vogel began play by defeating Kinsey Casey of the host Cougars in straight sets (7-5, 7-6) before moving on to top Davidson's Nisha Crouser (6-1, 6-0), propelling her into the semifinals. Vogel won her third match in straight sets by downing Samford's Madelle Janse Van Rensenburg (6-1, 6-3) before falling to Caroline Newmon of the College of Charleston (6-4, 6-0) in the title match.
Also participating in the A2 bracket, freshman Neena Wanko finished sixth after she lost her first match to Van Rensenburg (6-3, 6-2). She rebounded by defeating Charlotte's Gabi Vergara (0-6, 6-4, 10-4) and Casey (4-6, 6-3, 10-3) in three sets to put herself in a position to play Rebecca Kirvin of Samford for fifth-place. Kirvin would strike first, winning 6-4 before taking the match with a 6-1 victory. Junior Natalie Collins also competed in the bracket and took seventh by winning two matches against Davidson teammates Elise Held (6-0, 6-1) and Crouser (6-1, 6-1).
In Flight B1 singles play, sophomore Yilian Zhang won her first match against Brook Pletcher from Charleston Southern (6-4, 7-5) before sweeping Charlotte's Anna Ekelund in straight sets (6-2, 6-0). Zhang fell in the semifinals to the eventual champion from the host Cougars Kelly Kambourelis (6-3, 6-4) before defeating Elon's Frida Jansaker in the consolation bracket. Jansaker claimed the first set, 4-6, but Zhang rebounded to take the final two sets 6-4, 10-5 to claim third-place.
Sophomore Abby Richmond posted an overall 2-1 match record, picking up wins against Davidson's Catherine Wood (6-0, 6-3) and Charlotte's Tiffany Vanhpraseuth (6-0, 6-0). Additionally, senior Audrey LePottier finished the weekend 2-2 with both of her wins occurring in three sets against the Wildcats' Stephanie Synn (4-6, 6-2, 11-9) and Alison Raugh (4-6, 6-3, 10-5).
Highlighting doubles action for East Carolina was the tandem of senior Tamara Sachs and Collins, who took third-place in the B2 Flight by defeating Charleston Southern's Brooke Pletcher and Susita Das, 8-4.
The Lady Pirates continue their fall schedule Oct. 1-3 at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.
