BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University women's tennis lost for the first time at home this season when it suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of East Carolina on Friday at Yonahlossee Racquet Club.

The Mountaineers (3-5) battled hard all day to secure the win against the Pirates (4-5) and took an early lead by winning the doubles point, but could not hang on in singles play as ECU previaled.

Appalachian's No. 1 duo of Gabrielle Wreder/Mackenzie LaSure were the first to finish with an 8-5 win, with Megan Mullen/Clare Cox close behind, grabbing an 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.

The No. 3 doubles team of Olivia Isbey/McKayla Zupan trailed 5-6, but their match went unfinished as Appalachian had already secured the doubles point.

The Mountaineers continued to play close matches in singles play. LaSure snagged the No. 2 singles match 6-3, 6-2 while Wreder fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3. Brianna Armellino won her match at No. 4 by a final of 6-2, 6-2.

The No. 1 singles match was the closest of the day, as Cox battled the Pirates' Michelle Castro for three complete sets. Cox fell to Castro by a final of 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Jessica Thaggard also took her opponent to three close sets, but lost as well by a final of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, allowing East Carolina to tie the match up at 3-3.

The neck-and-neck play continued into the final and deciding No. 6 match between Zupan and ECU's Dana Gray. Zupan lost by a final of 4-6 6-3, 6-2 to give the final point and match win to the Pirates.

The Mountaineers have a quick turnaround as they remain home to host Samford to begin Southern Conference action Saturday. The match was originally scheduled for noon, but will now take place at 1:30 p.m. at Yohnalossee Racquet Club.

East Carolina 4, Appalachian State 3
Feb 28, 2014 at Boone, N.C. (Yonahlossee Racquet Club)

Singles competition

1. Michelle Castro (ECU) def. Clare Cox (APP) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

2. Mackenzie LaSure (APP) def. Nicole LaDuca (ECU) 6-3, 6-2

3. Melis Tanik (ECU) def. Gabrielle Wreder (APP) 6-2, 6-2

4. Brianna Armellino (APP) def. Emily Groeneveld (ECU) 6-2, 6-2

5. Maria Storozheva (ECU) def. Jessica Thaggard (APP) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

6. Dana Gray (ECU) def. McKayla Zupan (APP) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Gabrielle Wreder/Mackenzie LaSure (APP) def. Michelle Castro/Nicole LaDuca (ECU) 8-5

2. Megan Mullen/Clare Cox (APP) def. Dana Gray/Maria Storozheva (ECU) 8-5

3. Olivia Isbey/McKayla Zupan (APP) vs. Emily Groeneveld/Melis Tanik (ECU) 5-6, unfinished

Match Notes

East Carolina 4-5

Appalachian State 3-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)

T-5:36 A-62