Pirates Open Fall Season At Tribe Invitational

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina women's tennis team begins its fall slate this weekend when it takes part in the Tribe Invitational at the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center in Williamsburg, Va. The Pirates will face a field competitive field that includes host William & Mary, Indiana, Virginia Tech, USC and Towson.

All eight members of the squad, including freshmen Kim Auerswald and Joan Madi, will participate during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association sanctioned event.

"The day we have been working for since school started has finally arrived and we are excited to put on the Purple and Gold for the first time this year," head coach Kirstin Burgess said. "It is going to be a tough tournament with a lot of great teams participating, but I think we have prepared the best way possible for the event."

Burgess is in her second season as head coach at ECU after serving as an assistant coach for the Pirates since 2012. A decorated East Carolina student-athlete, she is one of five players in program history to earn a national ranking. She paired with Gillie Bailey to earn a spot in the ITA Doubles Rankings in 2005-06.

Sophomore Ines Bachir returns after leading the Pirates in dual victories a season ago (seven). She also teamed up with classmate Alisha Hussain to record five doubles wins. Speaking of doubles, the Pirates also return their top pairing from 2021-22 in sophomore Isabella Rivera Ortiz and Anne Lou Champion. The duo notched six victories over players from Appalachian State, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, Georgetown, George Washington and Elon.

Tribe Invitational Draws
Friday, Sept. 17
All-In Doubles
9:00 a.m. – Auerswald/Rivera (ECU) vs. Aksu/Radulova (Virginia Tech)
Tribe Doubles
9:30 a.m. – Hussain/Bachir (ECU) vs. Fernald/Kuzina (William & Mary)
10:30 a.m. – Muzzolon/Champion vs. TBA
Griffin Doubles
9:30 a.m. – Becker/Madi (ECU) vs. Manolescu/Monroe (William & Mary)

Green Singles
11:15 a.m. – Bachir (ECU) vs. Gurholt (William & Mary)
Gold Singles
11:15 a.m. - Muzzolon (ECU) vs. Strange (William & Mary)
12:15 p.m. – Auerswald (ECU) vs. Van Meeteren (William & Mary)
Black Singles
12:30 p.m. – Madi (ECU) vs. Fernald (William & Mary)
White Singles
1:30 p.m. – Hussain (ECU) vs. Mitchell (Virginia Tech)
1:45 p.m. – Rivera (ECU) vs. Vaissaud (William & Mary)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kim Auerswald

Ines Bachir

Anne Lou Champion

Alisha Hussain

Joan Madi

Isabella Rivera Ortiz

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