NCCU tops Appalachian State in thrilling fashion
DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University women’s tennis team made history as the Lady Eagles (1-6) captured their first win of the 2014 season during their home opener. NCCU defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-3) for the first time in the programs history, 4-3 on Friday (Feb. 21).
The Lady Eagles fell behind during doubles competition as rookies Lynsey Cover and Tamara Jeremic fell to App State’s Olivia Isbey and McKayla Zupan (8-1) at the No. 3.
NCCU earned victories in the other two doubles matches to capture the doubles point and juniors Ekaterina Nekrasova and Rebecca Wood defeated Clare Cox and Gabrielle Wreder (8-4) and the sophomore duo of Aissa Muamba and Mia Ramic defeated the Mountaineers Brianna Armellino and Mackenzie LaSure (8-5).
App State’s Sarah King quickly evened the match with a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the No. 6 singles spot over Jeremic while the Mountaineers pulled ahead 2-1 after App State’s Jessica Thaggard defeated Cover at the No. 5 (6-1, 6-1).
Nekrasova dropped the No. 3 singles in a tiebreaker (6-4, 1-6, (10-8)) giving the Mountaineers the 3-1 edge.
The Lady Eagles responded in the No. 2 spot as Muamba defeated Wreder in convincing fashion (7-5, 6-0).
To tie the match at 3-3 Ramic battled back from behind to defeat App State’s LaSure in a 7-6, 6-7 (10-8) tiebreaker at the No. 4.
The historic win rested in the hands of Wood as she came out victorious against the Mountaineers No. 1 with a 6-2, 7-5 win.
NCCU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 23 as the Lady Eagles travel to Norfolk, Va., where they will take on Norfolk State in a 1 p.m. match-up.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com
Morgan State falls at Liberty
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Morgan State women’s tennis team visited Liberty for a non-conference match on Friday afternoon and fell, 6-1.
The host Flames (5-2) swept the doubles matches to earn the doubles point then earned five of the six singles matches for the victory.
The Lady Bears’ (0-3) lone victory of the day came from senior Arina Alilueva. A native of Kursk, Russia, Alilueva dropped the first set by a score of 0-6, but bounced back to defeat Liberty’s Mariely Hassey 6-4 and 10-8 to claim the win.
The defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) North Division champion Lady Bears will kick off their home and MEAC opener on March 7 against Hampton.
For complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com
Hornets shut down Pirates
LEWES, Del. --- The Delaware State University women's tennis team (3-0) swept three singles matches and won two of three doubles contests in a 4-0 victory over Hampton on Friday.
Maya Banas led the Hornets in singles play with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the number two match.
DSU's Vanja Andonova posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the number three contest, Ksenia Kozlova was a 6-2, 6-1 winner for the Hornets at number one.
In the doubles competition, Delaware State's Meheq Kohkhar and Kristina Aleksic teamed up for an 8-3 victory in the number two match, while Kozlova and Andonova posted an 8-0 win at number one.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com or www.hamptonpirates.com
Morgan State Men Downed by Liberty
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The Morgan State men’s tennis team is still in search of its first win of the season. The Bears fell to the Liberty Flames 5-1 inside the Sports Racket on Friday night in Lynchburg, Va.
With the loss, the Bears fall to 0-5 for the season and drops to 4-0 all-time against Liberty.
The Bears jumped out to a 1-0 advantage after winning two of the three doubles matches. The Flames captured the first contest when Egon Samaai and Dillon Segur defeated Dmitriy Borodkin and Jannick Tash, 8-2, in the No. 2 position.
Morgan State rallied to take the remaining two doubles tilts. Joshua and Ty Abraham ousted Sergio Mourelo and Guillem Secanell, 8-4, before Duk Young-Park and Evan Ward upset Liberty's No. 19 ranked pair of Shea Thomas and Jorge Azuero, 8-7 (7).
The Flames responded in a big way in singles play. Thomas bounced back from the doubles loss to Young-Park with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the No. 1 position.
Samaai pushed Liberty in front by knocking off Ward in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 2 spot.
Azuero extended the Flames' edge to 3-1 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3 against Ty Abraham. Stan Vaughan followed with the clinching point in the No. 5 position. The senior ousted Tash, 6-3, 6-1.
Alejandro Llamas finished off the singles sweep with Liberty's fifth straight-set win, 6-4, 6-4, over Joshua Abraham in the No. 4 spot.
The No. 6 contest between Segur and Borodkin was ruled unfinished.
Morgan State begins Mid-Eastern Conference play when it hosts the Hampton Pirates on March 7.
For complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com