CAYCE, S.C., April 16, 2015 - Top seeded Bethune-Cookman women’s tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the 2015 MEAC Women’s Tennis Championship following a 4-0 sweep over No. 4-seeded northern divisional team Delaware State on Thursday, April 16 at the Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center in South Carolina.
The win extended the Lady Wildcats overall record to 20-6 while the Lady Hornets ended their season at 7-4.
With the victory, Bethune-Cookman will face No. 3 seeded Florida A&M beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 17 also at Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center.
Bethune-Cookman secured the doubles point and followed with singles match wins at No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6 to seal the victory.
Sophomore Mina Matsuba earned the victory over DSU freshman Elvira Galieva at No. 1 singles. At No. 5 singles Adel Musina clinched the 6-0, 6-0 victory over Patrice Casey. No. 6 Alejandra Vidal defeated 6-1, 6-0 Colleen Beck to give the Lady Wildcats the win.
South Carolina State also moved forward in the bracket following a 4-0 win over Hampton.
The Lady Bulldogs claimed the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles point, then earned victories at the No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 positions. Marketa Marcanikovadefeated Melanie Scott 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 while Dakota Brown won 6-2, 6-0 over Daneya Charles to gain the 3-0 edge. Smaranola Petreanu received the uncontested point to seal the win.
The Lady Bulldogs move to 8-8 overall, while the Lady Pirates wrap up the 2015 season with a 3-14 final record.
Florida A&M gets ready for their match against local rival top-seeded Bethune-Cookman on Friday after edging out Morgan State in the opening round, 4-1. The Lady Rattlers earned singles wins at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 while clinching the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles point.
No. 3 Shantal Blackwood defeated Kayla Price 6-2, 6-2 in singles action. No. 4 Dominique Henry advanced past Riana Roberts 6-1, 6-0 and No. 5 Arrice Robinson prevailed in a 6-2, 6-1 battle over Jasmine Edwards to put the Lady Rattlers on top 4-0.
North Carolina Central wrapped up the final spot for Friday’s bracket with a 4-2 win over Howard. NCCU increases its record to 9-14, while Howard ends the season with a 7-7 final mark.
NCCU took the early 1-0 lead with the doubles point win at No. 1 and No. 2 action.
No. 2 Rebecca Wood won against Umarah Mughnee 6-1, 6-1. No. 1 Aissa Muamba and No. 3 Ekaterina Nekrasova recorded tough fought victories to hang on to the win. Muamba defeated Stacey Roheman 6-4, 6-4 while Nekrasova held on to defeat Audra Bell 7-6 (3), 6-3.
NCCU will face No. 2 seed-south South Carolina State in the semifinal round beginning at 8:30 a.m.