Pirates' Streak Snapped Against Stetson

Saturday, February 23

Statesboro, Ga.

12 noon

East Carolina University

Stetson University

Photo by: Rob Taylor

February 23, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Box Score

STATESBORO, GA. – Despite being tied 2-2 late in the match, the ECU men's tennis team fell to Stetson 4-2 in a neutral site match on Saturday afternoon.

"Tough one today," said assistant coach Ian Van Cott. "We very nearly turned the match in our direction, but couldn't quite get there. The guys fought hard and all we can do is move on and get ready for the next one. We have a lot of tennis ahead of us and look forward to having a great week of practice as we head into the meat of our schedule."

ECU (10-2) loses for the first time in six matches and for the first time away from home. Stetson (6-5) moves back over .500 for the first time since starting the season 1-0.

The teams needed all three matches to decide the doubles point. The Hatters struck first as Colter DeCoste and Antoine Sanchez beat Austin Allen and Ronny Georgi 6-2 on court two. The Pirates answered as Wisse Jonker and Javier Renones beat Tim Gennes and Josh Laka 6-3 on the top court. Unfortunately for ECU, Stetson took the 1-0 lead when Coilin MacNamara and Clement Hamel beat Simon Labbe and Vlad Anghel 6-3 on court three.

The singles play was even in the early going, as ECU claimed three first sets and Stetson did the same. The Hatters doubles their lead when Gennes beat Georgi 6-2, 6-3 on court four.

ECU climbed back into the match with consecutive wins. First, Jonker beat Louis Gorregues 6-3, 7-5 on court two. Jonker is now a team-best 17-6 in singles this season and 11-1 in dual matches. His doubles partner, Renones, helped ECU tie the match at 2-2 by beating Sanchez 6-1, 7-5 on court three.

The Pirates could not add another point though. Anghel fell to Hamel in a tight two-set match on court one, as the match finished 6-4, 6-4 in favor of Hamel.

The eventual winning point could have gone either way. Will Bissett dropped the first set 6-3 to Christian Mills, but answered with a 6-3 second set, forcing the pair to go to a third-set. Even that set was not enough to separate the two, as the pair went to a tiebreaker. There, Mills finally pulled out the win, topping Bissett 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) to clinch the match. That point proved crucial as Labbe was leading MacNamara 6-2, 4-6, 5-3 in the sixth and final match.

ECU was scheduled to play a second match this weekend, against Georgia Southern on Sunday. However, due to the weather, that match was canceled. Instead the Pirates' next match will come on Saturday, March 2 when ECU hosts Jacksonville State.

Singles Results
1. Clement Hamel (Stetson) def. Vlad Anghel (ECU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Wisse Jonker (ECU) def. Louis Gorregues (Stetson) 6-3, 7-5
3. Javier Renones (ECU) def. Antoine Sanchez (Stetson) 6-1, 7-5
4. Tim Gennes (Stetson) def. Ronny Georgi (ECU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Simon Labbe (ECU) vs. Coilin MacNamara (Stetson) 6-2, 4-6, 5-3, unfinished
6. Christian Mills (Stetson) def. Will Bissett (ECU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)

Doubles Results
1. Wisse Jonker/Javier Renones (ECU) def. Tim Gennes/Josh Laka (Stetson) 6-3
2. Colter DeCoste/Antoine Sanchez (Stetson) def. Austin Allen/Ronny Georgi (ECU) 6-2
3. Coilin MacNamara/Clement Hamel (Stetson) def. Simon Labbe/Vlad Anghel (ECU) 6-3

Match Notes
Stetson 6-5
ECU 10-2
Order of finish Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,2,3,1,6)