Tennis -- Warriors escape Southern Wayne

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 28, 2004 1:57 PM

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Eastern Wayne pulled out two doubles wins and escaped county archrival Southern Wayne 5-4 in a Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference battle Tuesday afternoon at Wayne Community College.

The No. 1 doubles of Alex Bryant-Ben Ziccardi upended the Saints' Jerome Frederick-Justin Sutton 8-5. Teammates Andrew Smith-Chris Musser knocked off Allen Pangburn-Albertson 8-2 at No. 3 doubles.

"My guys did a great job," veteran Eastern Wayne coach Nancy Dawson said. "I'm very proud of Alex."

The teams were tied at 3-3 after singles.

Smith, the No. 4 seed, dropped an opening-set tiebreaker against Sutton. He rebounded to take the match 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5. Teammates James Arceneaux and John King each picked up a straight-set singles victory.

Top-seeded Jerome Fredrick outlasted Bryant 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-3. Michael Moore stopped Ziccardi 7-5, 6-2 and sixth-seeded Sterling Blackmon topped Musser 6-0, 6-4.

The Warriors (6-8) picked up their third consecutive victory and rose to 6-5 in ECC play. They face West Carteret in a make-up match today and visit county rival Charles B. Aycock on Thursday.

Eastern Wayne 5, Southern Wayne 4

Singles -- No. 1 Jerome Frederick (SW) d. Alex Bryant 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-3; No. 2 Michael Moore (SW) d. Ben Ziccardi 7-5, 6-2; No. 3 James Arceneaux (EW) d. Matt McLamb 6-1, 6-2; No. 4 Andrew Smith (EW) d. Justin Sutton 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5; No. 5 John King (EW) d. Allan Pangburn 6-3, 6-0; No. 6 Sterling Blackmon (SW) d. Chris Musser 6-0, 6-4.

Doubles -- No. 1 Bryant-Ziccardi (EW) d. Frederick-Sutton 8-5; No. 2 Moore-McLamb (SW) d. Arceneaux-King 8-6; No. 3 Smith-Musser (EW) d. Pangburn-Albertson 8-2.