Courtesy of North Carolina Central Athletic Communications


GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshmen Kennedy Hill, Isabelle Exsted and Lafilissa Joao all tallied their first collegiate singles victories in a dual match for the North Carolina Central women's tennis team in a close 4-3 road loss to UNC Greensboro on Wednesday afternoon.
 
In the final match of the day, UNCG senior Erika Barquero outlasted sophomore Jade Houston in a three-set affair to secure the team victory for the home team. The 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win for the All-SoCon honoree leveled the Spartans' record on the season.
 
Hill participated in the other three-set contest of the day and she rallied to win 6-7, 6-1, 6-0 to tie the match at 3-3 for the Eagles. Hill's triumph came at the second slot in NCCU's lineup over senior Ariana Chen.
 
Exsted and Joao collected the first two maroon and gray points on courts four and five, respectively. Exsted held off fifth-year senior Eugenia Camacho by a 7-5, 6-3 margin while Joao used matching 6-3 set wins in her conquest of fellow freshman Hannah Mitchell.
 
UNCG (1-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead by sweeping doubles and then winning straight-set matches from the the third and sixth positions in its singles lineup before the Eagles fought back and knotted the team score with the consecutive wins by Joao, Exsted and then Hill.