Bethune-Cookman knocks off Norfolk State

FLORENCE, S.C. – Greg Almeida’s three-set victory at No. 4 singles lifted Bethune-Cookman over Norfolk State 4-3 Monday morning, concluding a 3-0 weekend in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.

With the match notched at 3-3, Almeida, a sophomore from San Paulo, Brazil, posted a 6-1,3-6,6-3 victory over Norfolk State senior Daniel Grauel that gave the Wildcats (10-8, 3-0) their fourth consecutive victory and sixth in the last seventh.

It was the second time in five matches B-CU took the final match on court for the one-point win. Last week, Alvarro Barrera lifted the Wildcats to a 4-3 win over Bucknell.

B-CU recovered from dropping the doubles point. The Wildcats were 0-7 in matches they lost in doubles points before Monday.

Walid Gtari, Kevin Deligny and Diego Garavito registered the first three Wildcats singles victories.

The weekend sweep gives the Wildcats the early lead in the MEAC’s Southern Division and marks the first time since the conference went to division format any B-CU team has won more than one conference regular season match.

B-CU returns to action Wednesday, hosting UConn at 1:30 p.m.

In women’s action, Mina Matsuba posted both her tenth singles and doubles victories of the year Monday as Bethune-Cookman concluded its opening weekend Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play with a 5-2 victory over Norfolk State.

The sophomore from Nie, Japan, who won both the Player of The Year and Rookie of The Year honor last season, improved to 10-5 in singles play and 10-3 in doubles – six of those with Monday’s partner, Maria Sablina.

Chinatsu Kajiwara registered the clinching point, and Alejandra Vidal won her sixth straight singles match as the Lady Wildcats (11-5,3-0) pushed their winning streak to eight matches. Ancia Ifill dropped her first single match of the season, but got a doubles win to remain unbeaten in that category.

B-CU meets Farleigh-Dickinson in Orlando Tuesday.

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