Pirates Edged by Liberty 4-3

Lynchburg, Va. – East Carolina (5-7) won the doubles point to take an immediate lead in its match against Liberty (6-9) but the Flames rallied to win four-of-six singles matches en route to defeating ECU 4-3 at the Cook Tennis Center.

The Pirates claimed the doubles point when Maria Gomez and Nastja Rettich paired to win 6-2 at No. 2 doubles while Celia Ruiz and Lisa Hofbauer defeated Liberty's top duo Rebekah Anderson and Evangeline Crist, 6-3.

Mariely Hassey defeated Rettich 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5 singles to give the Flames their first point of the match and even the score 1-1. Ruiz finished off Anderson shortly after at the top of the lineup to put the Purple and Gold back on top 2-1 but Emily Groeneveld beat Sarah Sarjoo in consecutive sets at No. 4 singles to tie the match ones more at 2-all.

Anna Dollar beat Annija Veinsteina 6-4, 7-6, at No. 3 singles to give LU its first lead in the match 3-2 while both Hofbauer and Michelle Castro entered a third set.

After winning the first set 6-3, Hofbauer was defeated in set two 6-2 by Crist to send No. 2 singles to a third set. Crist cruised to a 6-1 win in the deciding set to give the Flames their fourth point of the match to secure the victory.

Castro forced a third set after losing the first 6-3 and winning the second 6-4 at the bottom of the lineup against Eugenia Camacho. She held on for a 6-2 win in set three giving ECU its second singles win and third point overall in the match.

East Carolina continues its seven-match road stretch Saturday morning at Richmond and completes the span Sunday at Wake forest at 4 p.m.

Results:
Singles
1. Celia Ruiz def. Rebekah Anderson 6-1, 6-2
2. Evangeline Crist def. Lisa Hofbauer 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
3. Anna Dollar def. Annija Veinsteina 6-4, 7-6
4. Emily Groeneveld def. Sarah Sarjoo 6-4, 6-1
5. Mariely Hassey def. Nastja Rettich 6-0, 6-2
6. Michelle Castro def. Eugenia Camacho 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Celia Ruiz/Lisa Hofbauer def. Rebekah Anderson/Evangeline Crist 6-3
2. Maria Gomez/Nastja Rettich def. Anna Dollar/Aleksandra Panchenko 6-2
3. Michelle Castro/Annija Veinsteina vs. Mariely Hassey/Emily Groeneveld 5-2

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Players Mentioned

Michelle Castro

Maria Gomez

Lisa Hofbauer

Nastja Rettich

Celia Ruiz

Sarah Sarjoo

Annija Veinsteina

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