EAST CLINCHES CLOSE 4-3 WIN FOR NCCU IN MEAC OPENER OVER FLORIDA A&M

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Sophomore William East won a thrilling three-set singles match to secure the clinching fourth team point in favor of North Carolina Central University in a close 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) victory over Florida A&M University on Friday afternoon at the Waccamaw Regional Tennis Center.

The Eagles (3-4 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) have won three of their last four matches and open league play in the win column.

NCCU started out winning doubles but FAMU’s fourth singles player Courage Okungbowa quickly tied the match with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 triumph.

A pair of straight set wins by freshman Kert Kilumets (6-4, 6-4) and senior Daniil Gerasimov (6-2, 7-5) atop the Eagles lineup got NCCU within one point of the team victory. Kilumets improved to 2-3 in his rookie season while Gerasimov boasts a team-best 4-1 singles record with his fourth consecutive ‘W’ after knocking off a 2014 All-MEAC honoree in FAMU’s Carlos Agustin Waitman.

East took an early lead in his critical third tier match winning a tight first set 7-5 but his opposition in Walner Espinoza fought back for a 6-3 win in the second set to tie the battle. East (2-4) responded with his strongest play of the match winning the decisive third set 6-3.

The Rattlers won all three singles matches in the bottom half of the lineup in straight sets.

In doubles action, Gerasimov teamed up with senior Fabrice George for strong 8-3 win at No. 2 and Kilumets joined forces with senior Tamina Kienka for a close 8-6 conquest at No. 3. The top doubles match went unfinished after the Eagles seized the team point.

NCCU will play two more matches in South Carolina to conclude the MEAC Southern Division Round-Up in Florence on Sunday with duel’s against Bethune-Cookman University (10 a.m.) and South Carolina State University (3 p.m.).

For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com

LADY EAGLES DROP CLOSE 4-3 TENNIS MATCH TO FLORIDA A&M

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Despite a pair of wins by Ekaterina Nekrasova in both singles and doubles the North Carolina Central University women’s tennis team suffered a narrow 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss to Florida A&M University Friday afternoon at the Waccamaw Regional Tennis Center.

Aissa Muamba continued her stellar junior season for the Lady Eagles winning the top singles match – 6-4, 6-1 – and classmate Mia Ramic picked up NCCU’s final point in the sixth position winning a dramatic 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 decision. Muamba boasts an 8-2 singles record.

Nekrasova (6-4) had little trouble in her No. 2 singles bout coasting 6-0, 6-3. She first partnered with senior Rebecca Wood for an 8-4 doubles win on court one but the Lady Rattlers won the other two contests 8-5 and 8-6 to secure the doubles team point.

Shantal Blackwood doubled FAMU’s lead to 2-0 with a win at No. 3 before Muamba and Nekrasova tied the match for the Lady Eagles with their strong play atop the lineup.

The Lady Rattlers were then able to secure the team victory with straight set wins at four and five by Dominique Henry and Arrice Robinson before Ramic (2-7) picked up NCCU’s final point.

NCCU will play two more matches in South Carolina to conclude the MEAC Southern Division Round-Up in Florence on Sunday with duel’s against Bethune-Cookman University (10 a.m.) and South Carolina State University (3 p.m.).

For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.famuathletics.com