East Carolina University
Gardner-Webb
Pirates Capture Sweep Of Road Doubleheader
February 28, 2015 | Women's Tennis
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The East Carolina women's tennis squad took both ends of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday at the Knobloch Tennis Center, topping host Davidson 4-3 in morning action before defeating Gardner-Webb by a 6-1 score during the afternoon to successfully close out a three-match road swing.
In the opener against the Wildcats (5-3), Nicole LaDuca's grueling 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory over Anna Feaster in a No. 2 battle sparked the Pirates' comeback from a 3-1 deficit. Although ECU captured the early doubles point, Davidson quickly rallied with singles victories at the No. 4, No. 3 and No. 1 positions to take a commanding lead.
LaDuca's epic triumph was followed Neena Wanko's 6-2, 6-0 win against Cassidy Shell at No. 6 and Katie Hoch's 6-3, 6-3 match-clincher versus Jenna Brunner at No. 5.
In the afternoon tilt against Gardner-Webb (2-2), the Pirates captured another doubles tally and five of six singles events to earn their eighth triumph in 10 outings this spring.
After surrendering only four total points during a sweep of pairs play, East Carolina used straight-set singles victories by LaDuca (6-1, 6-0 over Yasmin Doost) at No. 1, Hoch (6-3, 6-1 over Sarah Rieckmann) at No. 4, Sarah Sarjoo (6-1, 6-2 over Catherine White) at No. 5 and Dana Gray (6-1, 6-1 over Mary Walker Mixon) at No. 6. Michelle Castro closed out the Pirates' scoring effort by outlasting GWU's Rokia Sacko 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a No. 2 matchup.
The Pirates will open American Athletic Conference play when it faces Temple at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at either the ECU Indoor Tennis Facility or River Birch Tennis Center.
EAST CAROLINA 4, DAVIDSON 3
Singles Play
No. 1 - Elaina Cummer (DAV) def. Michelle Castro (ECU 6-3, 1-6, 7-6
No. 2 - Nicole LaDuca (ECU) def. Anna Feaster (DAV) 3-6, 7-6, 7-5
No. 3 - Sarah Stein (DAV) def. Maria Gomez (ECU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
No. 4 - Ava Todd (DAV) def. Sarah Sarjoo (ECU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 - Katie Hoch (ECU) def. Jenna Brunner (DAV) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 - Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Cassidy Shell (DAV) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Brunner/Cummer (DAV) vs. Castro/LaDuca (ECU) 4-3, unfinished
No. 2 - Gomez/Wanko (ECU) def. Feaster/Ally Sexton (DAV) 6-2
No. 3 - Dana Gray/Hoch (ECU) def. Stein/Todd (DAV) 6-3
Team Records: East Carolina 7-2, Davidson 5-3
EAST CAROLINA 6, GARDNER-WEBB 1
Singles Play
No. 1 - Nicole LaDuca (ECU) def. Yasmin Doost (GWU) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 - Michelle Castro (ECU) def. Rokia Sacko (GWU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
No. 3 - Stina Magnusson (GWU) def. Maria Gomez (ECU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 - Katie Hoch (ECU) def. Sarah Rieckmann (GWU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 - Sarah Sarjoo (ECU) def. Catherine White (GWU) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 - Dana Gray (ECU) def. Mary Walker Mixon (GWU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Play
No. 1 - Castro/LaDuca (ECU) def. Doost/Magnusson (GWU) 6-3
No. 2 - Gomez/Neena Wanko (ECU) def. Mixon/Sacko (GWU) 6-1
No. 3 - Gray/Hoch (ECU) def. Rieckmann/White (GWU) 6-0
Team Records: East Carolina 8-2, Gardner-Webb 2-2
Players Mentioned
