Pirates Make History At ITA Carolina Regional

Thursday, October 19

Chapel Hill, N.C.

All Day

East Carolina University

ITA Carolina Regional

October 23, 2023 | Women's Tennis

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The East Carolina women's tennis team wrapped up its fall campaign over the weekend at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Carolina Regional at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina.

The Pirates put forth a very respectable showing, racking up eight wins between singles and doubles play. Martina Muzzolon took advantage of her opportunity in the A1 singles consolation draw, running through the bracket to capture the first regional draw title in program history. Kim Auerswald also advanced to the main portion of the A1 singles draw before bowing out of the tournament due to injury.

Up Next: ECU opens its 2024 dual schedule Jan. 19 against VCU in Richmond, Va.

From Head Coach Kirstin Burgess
What a way to cap off our Fall season! The girls have been working hard to get a little bit better every day and that really showed last week in Greensboro and this week in Chapel Hill.

The team won their first four matches on Thursday, and Kim Auerswald qualified for her first Regional Main Draw before falling and injuring her achilles in doubles with Lou. Ines and Alisha took down a team from Wake Forest for a spot in the round of 16 and Martina went 1-1 in her qualifying rounds.

Due to Kim's injury, Martina was offered a "lucky loser" spot in the Main Draw where she joined Ines for matchups against the number 1 and 2 seeds from Carolina. After first round setbacks, both girls enjoyed wins in the consolation and Martina really seized her opportunity by making it all the way to final and claiming the Regional Consolation Draw title with a three set win over NC State - a first Regional title in program history.

Congratulations to the team! We cannot wait to see what they can accomplish in the Spring!

2023 ITA Carolina Regional Results
Qualifying Singles Draw
R64: Kim Auerswald (ECU) def. Lucia Gomez (UNCW) – 7-5, 6-0
R64: Martina Muzzolon (ECU) def. Stela Joksimovic (UNCW) – 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
R32: Kim Auerswald (ECU) def. (1) Sophia Hatton (Clemson) – 6-3, 6-4
R32: Sofiya Chursina (South Carolina State) def. Martina Muzzolon (ECU) – 6-1, 6-4

A1 Singles Draw (Consolation)
R16: Martina Muzzolon (ECU) def. Lucianna Piedra (Presbyterian) – 6-4, 6-3
Quarterfinal: Gina Dittmann (NC State) def. Ines Bachir (ECU) – 6-3, 6-1
Quarterfinal: Martina Muzzolon (ECU) def. Grace Thomas (Furman) – 4-6, 6-2 [10-7]
Semifinal: Martina Muzzolon (ECU) vs. Jessica Braun (Charleston Southern) – Muzzolon advances (walkover/injury)
Final: Martina Muzzolon (ECU) def. Gina Dittmann (NC State) – 7-5, 2-6 [11-9]

A1 Singles Draw (Main)
R32: Abbey Forbes (North Carolina) def. Ines Bachir (ECU) – 6-3, 6-1

A1 Doubles Draw
R32: Ines Bachir/Alisha Hussain (ECU) def. Jingyi Li/Aubrey Nisbet (Wake Forest) – 8-1
R16: Gina Dittmann/Maddy Zampardo (NC State) def. Ines Bachir/Alisha Hussain (ECU) – 8-7 (7-5)

A2 Doubles Draw
R32: Maryam Ahmed/Sankavi Gownder (Wake Forest) def. Kim Auerswald/Anne Lou Champion (ECU) – 6-3 (retired/injury)