Women's Tennis | 4/9/2025 10:54:11 AM

NORFOLK, Va., Apr. 9, 2025 — North Carolina Central sophomore Patricia Palencia was named the MEAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week while Norfolk State’s Sofiya Tsitavets earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. 

Palencia (So., Barquisimeto, Venezuela) delivered a key singles victory at the No. 4 position for NCCU, earning the team’s lone point in a dual match against South Carolina State. Palencia defeated Ashikha Amalnathan in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, improving her singles record in conference play to 4-1. In doubles, she teamed with Gabriela Mejia Arenas in the No. 1 spot but fell to Sofiya Chursina and Hind Semlali, 1-6. 

Tsitavets (Fr., Vitebsk, Belarus) went 2-0 on the week with wins in singles and doubles against Hampton. At No. 1 singles, she defeated Hampton’s Diana Starodubtseva, 6-0, 6-1, while also winning at No. 2 doubles with partner Ines Sabadie 6-2 over Sokoloca and Sakiroglu.