ECU Men’s Tennis Suffers First Loss At George Washington

Joran Vliegen and John Schmitt beat ranked foes in 4-3 setback

Box Score

McLEAN, VA Feb. 1, 2013 - The East Carolina men’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the 2013 spring season Friday afternoon, losing to George Washington 4-3 at the Indoor Regency Tennis Center.

After losing the doubles points, the Pirates (3-1) came back to win singles matches at No. 1, 2 and 5. Joran Vliegen and John Schmitt each posted victories over ranked opponents.

The match began with the Colonials winning doubles matches at the No.2 and 3 positions. Schmitt teamed with Damien Brenard at No. 2 doubles but succumbed to the GW duo of Nikita Fomin and Daniel Zelenkov in a fourth-set tiebreaker, 8-7. Francisco Dias and Leonard Lapentti secured the doubles point for the Colonials with an 8-4 win over Ross Nigro and Patriek Wolterbeek. The Pirates earned their lone doubles victory at the No. 1 position as Vliegen and Colin Roller bested the duo of Ulrik Thomsen and Alexander van Gils, 8-4.

In singles action, Vliegen down Dias, the No. 76 player in the country, 6-3, 6-0 in the first flight match. Schmitt followed with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Fomin, who is ranked No. 96. Wolterbeek outlasted Lapentti at No.5 in three sets 6-1, 0-6, 1-0 (5).

Bernard fell to Zelenkov at the No. 3 spot by set scores of 6-4, 6-2. Roller lost to van Gilis at No. 4 6-3, 6-3 win and Blake Gregory was defeated by Thomsen 6-1, 6-2, in the No. 6 position.

The Pirates return to action Saturday against Navy in Annapolis.

George Washington 4, East Carolina 3
Singles
No. 1 – Joran Vliegen (ECU) def. #76 Francisco Dias (GW) – 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 – John Schmitt (ECU) def. #96 Nikita Fomin (GW) – 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 – Danil Zelenkov (GW) def. Damien Brenard (ECU) – 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 – Alexander van Gils (GW) def. Colin Roller (ECU) – 6-3, 6-3
No. 5 – Patriek Wolterbeek (ECU) def. Leonardo Lapentti (GW) – 6-1, 0-6, 1-0 (5)
No. 6 – Ulrik Thomsen (GW) def. Blake Gregory (ECU) – 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 – Colin Roller/Joran Vliegen (ECU) def. Ulrik Thomsen/Alexander van Gils (GW) – 8-4
No. 2 – Nikita Fomin/Danil Zelenkov (GW) def. Damien Brenard/John Schmitt (ECU) – 8-7 (4)
No. 3 – Francisco Dias/Leonardo Lapentti (GW) def. Ross Nigro/Patriek Wolterbeek (ECU) – 8-4