ECU Takes Down AAC Foe UConn 4-0

Friday, February 15

Storrs, CT

1 PM

East Carolina University

University of Connecticut

Photo by: Rob Taylor

February 15, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Box Score

EAST HARTFORD, CONN. – In the first match against an American Athletic opponent, the ECU men's tennis team passed the test with a 4-0 win over Connecticut on Friday afternoon.

"A hard day's work for us today," said head coach Shawn Heinchon. "Our doubles were okay, not great. We are still improving in that area, but saw some good signs today that should help us moving forward. I'm super pleased with our singles, it was good to see Javier (Renones) back in the lineup and crushing it."

ECU (8-1) got out ahead of UConn during the doubles play. The Huskies struck first though, with Austin Allen and Diogo Marques fell to Hank Hill and Yili Zheng 6-3 on court one.

Vlad Anghel and Simon Labbe played together for the first time as a doubles duo, but they did not miss a beat as the Pirates pair beat UConn's Justin Warren and Christian Provenzano 6-3 on court three. ECU clinched the doubles point after a tight match on court two. Javier Renones and Wisse Jonker might have just a 3-2 record together this season, but they went 17-2 as a tandem during the 2017-18 season and that experience proved vital when they went into a tiebreaker against John Holtman and Jack McLister. The Pirate pair were able to hold on for a 7-6 (7-5) win.

The Pirates' quickly grabbed a stranglehold on the match during the early part of singles. ECU won the first set on courts two, three and four, putting the Pirates on track to earn the four total points they needed.

The first to finish his match was Renones, with the junior beating Hill 6-1, 6-1 on court four. Renones is now a perfect 5-0 in dual matches.

Anghel followed Renones with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Zheng on court two, putting ECU one point away from the victory.

It was the Pirates' most consistent singles player who clinched the match. Jonker routed McLister 6-2, 6-3 on court three for his team-best eighth dual match victory to clinch the team score for ECU.

ECU will continue the road trip on Saturday afternoon when the Pirates take on Boston University. The match is scheduled to get underway at 12:30 p.m.

Singles Results
1. John Holtman (Conn) vs. Diogo Marques (ECU) 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
2. Vlad Anghel (ECU) def. Yili Zheng (Conn) 6-3, 6-1
3. Wisse Jonker (ECU) def. Jack McLister (Conn) 6-2, 6-3
4. Javier Renones (ECU) def. Hank Hill (Conn) 6-1, 6-1
5. Justin Warren (Conn) vs. Ronny Georgi (ECU) 6-3, 4-4, unfinished
6. Evan Powell (Conn) vs. Simon Labbe (ECU) unfinished

Doubles Results
1. Hank Hill/Yili Zheng (Conn) def. Austin Allen/Diogo Marques (ECU) 6-3
2. Wisse Jonker/Javier Renones (ECU) def. John Holtman/Jack McLister (Conn) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Vlad Anghel/Simon Labbe (ECU) def. Justin Warren/Christian Prevenzano (Conn) 6-3

Match Notes
ECU 8-1
Connecticut 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,3)