Match Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Norfolk State women's tennis team nearly pulled off the upset but in the end came up one singles match short in a 4-3 loss to Hampton Friday afternoon at the Centre Court Tennis Club.

The Spartans won two of the three doubles matches for the early 1-0 lead and also took the No. 2 and No. 3 singles matches, but the Pirates won the other four singles bouts for the eventual victory. NSU fell to 0-6 on the season while Hampton improved to 1-1.

Junior Naeemah Brooks and freshman Gabriella Jonsson took down Calisia Reid and Maria Ycaza at No. 1 doubles, 8-2. Senior Jennifer Astbury and sophomore Rebecca Graff helped NSU gain the doubles point with a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles against Danielle Butler and Tresdale.

The Hampton duo of Barenese Myers and Tabita Daolio earned an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles against senior Chenge Tsapayi and freshman Maryna Kariuk.

Jonsson and Brooks both earned victories in their singles matches as well. Jonsson wasted little time in downing Myers, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 2 singles. Brooks, meanwhile, defeated Reid, 6-0, 6-2, at the No. 3 singles slot.

Astbury gave it a ride at the No. 1 singles spot, but Daolio was too much in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Astbury. The Pirates also gained wins in the last three singles positions.

Ycaza struggled to put away Graff at No. 4 in the first set, 7-5, before an easy 6-0 win in the second. Renee Henry faced Kariuk at No. 5 singles, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6, including 7-4 in the tiebreaker. Butler also won in straight sets over junior Ashley Foster at the No. 6 position, 6-1, 6-2.

With the first portion of the season done, the Spartans will be back in action in a month as NSU will take part in the MEAC round-robin tournament beginning with Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State March 3 in Sumter, S.C.