East Carolina University
Western Carolina
Lady Pirates Split Pair In Saturday Road Doubleheader
February 18, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 18, 2012
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The East Carolina women's tennis squad split a pair of non-conference matches Saturday at the Webb Tennis Center, falling to host Gardner-Webb 4-3 in morning action before defeating Western Carolina by a 5-1 score during the afternoon.
In the opener against the Bulldogs (3-2), Alice Hopkins' 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over ECU's Natalie Collins in a No. 2 matchup broke a 3-3 deadlock and provided the winning margin for GWU's win. The two squads split six singles bouts as Renata Bakieva (6-2, 6-2), Danielle Terpko (6-2, 6-3) and Dana Gray (6-3, 6-2) posted triumphs for the Lady Pirates at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions, respectively. In addition to Hopkins' victory, Alice White downed Yilian Zhang 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 and Ioana Oprea blanked Neena Wanko 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 for Gardner-Webb.
Hopkins also played a role in helping the Bulldogs clinch what proved to be a pivotal doubles point, teaming with Yasmin Doost to down Bakieva and Collins 8-5 in a No. 2 battle after the two teams opened pairs play splitting the first two matches.
In the afternoon tilt against Western Carolina (0-2), the Lady Pirates captured five of six singles events to earn their third win of the season.
Terpko opened action by dismissing Sarah Walters 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 5 slot before Zhang added a 6-3, 6-0 win against Katie Barry at No. 4. Bakieva followed with a 6-0, 6-4 defeat of Megan McLinden at No. 3, Collins topped Ainhoa Iglesias Diaz 6-1, 7-5 at No. 1 and Gray earned a default victory to close out ECU's scoring.
The Catamounts posted their only win at No. 2 when Karen Jimenez handed Wanko a 6-2, 6-0 setback.
Once East Carolina (3-6) secured the team victory with its fourth singles victory, doubles play was cancelled due to the forecast of inclement weather and the possibility of subsequent hazardous traveling conditions.
The Lady Pirates will continue their seven-match roadswing Wednesday by facing Campbell in Buies Creek beginning at 3 p.m.
GARDNER-WEBB 4, EAST CAROLINA 3
Singles Play
No. 1 - Erica White (GWU) def. Yilian Zhang (ECU) 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 - Alice Hopkins (GWU) def. Natalie Collins (ECU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 - Ioana Oprea (GWU) def. Neena Wanko (ECU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 4 - Renata Bakieva (ECU) def. Jenny Lunde (GWU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Danielle Terpko (ECU) def. Ronia Hutterli (GWU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 - Dana Gray (ECU) def. Yasmin Doost (GWU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Lunde/Oprea (GWU) def. Terpko/Zhang (ECU) 8-3
No. 2 - Doost/Hopkins (GWU) def. Bakieva/Collins (ECU) 8-5
No. 3 - Gray/Wanko (ECU) def. Tavenner Black/White (GWU) 8-3
Team Records: East Carolina 2-6, Gardner-Webb 3-2
EAST CAROLINA 5, WESTERN CAROLINA 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Natalie Collins (ECU) def. Ainhoa Iglesias DÃaz (WCU) 6-1, 7-5
No. 2 - Karen Jiménez (WCU) def. Neena Wanko (ECU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 - Renata Bakieva (ECU) def. Megan McLinden (WCU) 6-0, 6-4
No. 4 - Yilian Zhang (ECU) def. Katie Barry (WCU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 - Danielle Terpko (ECU) def. Sarah Walters (WCU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 - Dana Gray (ECU) won by default
Doubles Play
did not play doubles
Team Records: East Carolina 3-6, Western Carolina 0-2
Players Mentioned
