Ncube Clinches ECU's 4-3 Win At UNCG

Saturday, February 8

Greensboro, NC

1 PM

East Carolina University

UNC Greensboro

Photo by: Rob Taylor

February 08, 2020 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Two weeks after its last match came down to a tiebreaker in the final singles match, the ECU women's tennis team had another thriller come down to the wire. The Pirates prevailed once again though, beating UNC Greensboro 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.

"That was a fun match!" said associate head coach Kirstin Burgess. "The Spartans really came out strong after the doubles point, but our ladies dug deep and played brave on the big points!"

ECU improves to 2-2 on the season while UNCG falls to 1-3.

The day got off to a good start for the Pirates as they swept all three doubles matches. Minette Van Vreden and Hanna Axelsson got the first win for ECU, beating Brianna Gomez and Tayah Cross 6-2 on court three. The point was clinched when Nastja Rettich and Michelle Ncube beat Sophia Adams and Eugenia Camacho 6-4 on court two. Lisa Hofbauer and Sibel Tanik made it a clean ECU sweep, topping Erika Barquero and Hanna Giddings 6-4 on the top court.

ECU's momentum continued in the singles play when Van Vreden crusied to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Cross on court six.

However, from there, ECU began to stall while UNC Greensboro began to fight back. The Spartans got their first point when Gomez topped Rettich 6-3, 6-3 on court four and tied the match at 2-2 when Adams beat Tanik 6-3, 6-1 on court two. UNC Greensboro then took the lead with its third consecutive victory, this one coming courtesy of Camacho against Axelsson on court five.

ECU was in the same spot against James Madison in its last match and once again the Pirates did not give up when they had their backs against the wall. Hofbauer and Ncube both dropped their opening sets, but rebounded to win their second sets and extend both matches. Hofbauer levelled the match once again when she finished off a thrilling 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win over Barquero on court one.

Like Axelsson against James Madison, Ncube held ECU's fate on her racquet in a third set tiebreaker. Ncube came through with the winning point by knocking off Giddings 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 on court three, giving ECU its second consecutive win.

ECU will be back on the courts next weekend for a pair of matches. First up will be a trip to Campbell on Friday afternoon.

Singles Results

Lisa Hofbauer (ECU) def. Erika Barquero (UNCG) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
Sophia Adams (UNCG) def. Sibel Tanik (ECU) 6-3, 6-1
Michelle Ncube (ECU) def. Hanna Giddings (UNCG) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6
Brianna Gomez (UNCG) def. Nastja Rettich (ECU) 6-3, 6-3
Eugenia Camacho (UNCG) def. Hanna Axelsson (ECU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Minette Van Vreden (ECU) def. Tayah Cross (UNCG) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles Results

Lisa Hofbauer/Sibel Tanik (ECU) def. Erika Barquero/Hanna Giddings (UNCG) 6-4
Nastja Rettich/Michelle Ncube (ECU) def. Sophia Adams/Eugenia Camacho (UNCG) 6-4
Minette Van Vreden/Hanna Axelsson (ECU) def. Brianna Gomez/Tayah Cross (UNCG) 6-2