GREENVILLE, N.C. – The UNCG women's tennis team dropped a close match on the road against East Carolina, 4-3, Thursday at the River Birch Tennis Center.

UNCG is 1-2 after the loss and ECU improves to 2-1 with the close victory.

In doubles, ECU took a 1-0 lead after winning two matches. Michelle Castro and Nicole LaDuca defeated senior Kayla Gammie (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Broward Virtual School) and freshman Corinne Blythe (Leicestershire, Great Britain/Queenswood School), 6-3 at No. 1 doubles.

The Pirates clinched the doubles point after securing a 6-2 victory as Maria Gomez and Neena Wanko took down freshman Blaine Boaz (Dunwoody, Ga./Saint Pius X) and senior Stephanie Falcon (Marietta, Ga./Walton) at No. 2 doubles.

In the final doubles match, junior Amy Ellis (Cheshire, Great Britain/Newcastle Under Lyme School) and Soumeya Anane (Coventry, Great Britain/Tile Hill Wood School) went unfinished after trailing 5-3 against Dana Gray and Katie Hoch at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, LaDuca won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1 against Anane at No. 1 singles to make the score 2-0 Pirates. Sarah Sarjoo defeated Blythe, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles to push the lead to 3-0.  

At No. 3 singles, Gomez defeated Falcon, 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the victory for ECU, 4-0. UNCG would win the next three matches with two going to third sets. 

Ellis improved to 3-0 after defeating Wanko in straight sets, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 at No. 5 singles.  

Junior Jamie Grinberg (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) rallied back to defeat Hoch, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 at No. 6 singles. Grinberg dropped the second set and fell behind 5-1 in the third set before storming back to win the next six games for the win.

At No. 2 singles, Gammie outlasted Castro, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (12-10) to make the final score 4-3. Gammie earned the comeback win after winning the second set, 6-4 and a close tiebreaker, 7-6 (12-10) in the third set.

The Spartans travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to face USC Upstate Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.

Follow all the action about the 2014-15 UNCG Women's tennis team on www.UNCGSpartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports.