CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (May 11, 2018)--Morgan State began its quest for an NCAA Championship on Friday afternoon when it squared off against host North Carolina, the No. 2 seed, in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship.
But the Lady Bears' season would come to an end following a 4-0 loss to the Tar Heels at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
North Carolina (27-3), who entered the match ranked No. 1 in the nation and the No. 2 seed in the tournament, would claim the doubles point, by winning the first and third matches, then won three of the completed singles matches for the win.
The Tar Heels got on the board by claiming the doubles point with Marika Akkerman and Makenna Jones teaming up for a 6-1 victory over Morgan State's Oriane Yehouenou and Dana Santiago at No. 3 doubles. UNC's Jessie Aney and Alexa Graham, who are ranked second in the nation in doubles, won the doubles point with their 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles over Danielle Thompson and Peggy Rooke.
UNC extended its lead to 2-0 when Akkerman defeated the Lady Bears' Asmara Faluke in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. Chloe Ouellet-Pizer, who is ranked 119th, defeated Yehouenou 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 5 spot to put the hosts in front, 3-0. The Tar Heels would seal the deal when Aney, ranked 85th, topped Santiago 6-2, 6-1 for the 4-0 victory.
Morgan State, which won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship for just the second time in school history, finished the season at 12-13.