East Carolina University
Charlotte
Pirates Lose Heartbreaker To Charlotte, 4-3
March 28, 2015 | Men's Tennis
CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The East Carolina men's tennis team lost another heartbreaker late Friday night, this time to Charlotte, losing 4-3 after winning the doubles point, at the Charlotte Indoor Tennis Club. It was the fourth time this year that they lost by a single point.
"You can get over analytical when you lose as many close matches as we've been in lately, but at the end of the day our guys are fighting hard and giving themselves a chance," ECU Head Coach Shawn Heinchon said. "That's all we can ask for. No doubt it was a tough loss to Charlotte tonight, but we are proud of our guy's effort out there."
The Pirates (9-10) went up 1-0 after securing the doubles point with wins at lines one and three doubles, but then lost four of six singles matches to the 49ers (12-2).
Things started out on a positive not for the Pirates, as senior Patriek Wolterbeek and junior Tendai Tapfuma posted a 7-5 win over the Niners' Kamil Khalil and J Massalle Ferrer at line one doubles. Seniors Nicolas Soriano and Damien Brenard then followed with a tiebreaker win over the Alex Calott and Paul Cisti at line three to secure the point.
East Carolina went up 3-0 as Soriano defeated Vikram Hundal in straight sets at the No. 1 position and Wolterbeek swept Cisti at the No. 6 in singles play.
Calott scored the 49ers' first point with a straight win over freshman Kasey Countee at No. 5 as Charlotte won the final four matches, the last two in three sets, to steal the win.
Tapfuma lost a first set tiebreaker, 7-6 (10-8), to the Niners' Forest Edwards at line two, and eventually fell 7-6, 6-2. Colin Roller also lost a first set-breaker from the No. 4 position, but rallied to force a deciding third set before succumbing to Ferrer 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Brenard was able to force a decisive third set as well after losing the opening set, but was unable to overtake Khalil and fell 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The Pirates will now look to bounce back as they continue play in the Queen City Saturday against College of Charleston. The Pirates will play the Cougars Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Charlotte 4, East Carolina 3
Singles competition
No. 1 - Nicolas Soriano (ECU) def. Vikram Hundal (CHA) 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 - Forrest Edwards (CHA) def. Tendai Tapfuma (ECU) 7-6 (10-8), 6-2
No. 3 - Kamil Khalil (CHA) def. Damien Brenard (ECU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Mo. 4 - J Massalle Ferrer (CHA) def. Colin Roller (ECU) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4
No. 5 - Alex Calott (CHA) def. Kasey Countee (ECU) 6-2, 7-6 (12-10)
No. 6 - Patriek Wolterbeek (ECU) def. Paul Cisti (CHA) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
No. 1 - Tendai Tapfuma/Patriek Wolterbeek (ECU) def. Kamil Khalil/J Massalle Ferrer (CHA) 7-5
No. 2 - Vikram Hundal/Jack Williams (CHA) def. Colin Roller/Kasey Countee (ECU) 6-4
No. 3 - Nicolas Soriano/Damien Brenard (ECU) def. Alex Calott/Paul Cisti (CHA) 7-6 (7-3)
Players Mentioned
