Match Results

NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State dropped the doubles point but would not be denied on Saturday afternoon at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center at ODU. The Spartan women's tennis team rebounded to win the first four contested singles matches on the way to a 5-1 win over Morgan State.
 
The victory closed out the regular season MEAC schedule for NSU and gave the Spartans the Northern Division title at 6-0. It marked their first regular season title in nine years the league has had divisional play and the first overall in the MEAC, including round robin play before it split into divisions after the 2007 season.
 
The Bears dropped to 6-10 overall and 3-2 in conference play. NSU also ran its overall record to 9-9. The Spartans finished ahead of second-place Howard (5-1) in the final standings. NSU will be the No. 1 seed from the North at next week's MEAC Championship at ODU.
 
"We came out and struggled in doubles, but the ladies responded incredibly well in singles," said head coach Worth Richardson. "They have come so far so fast this year."
 
NSU needed to rally after dropping the doubles point, this despite Morgan State defaulting at the third position due to its short-handed lineup. The Bears also defaulted at No. 6 singles in a match moved indoor to ODU due to the threat of high winds in the Norfolk area.
 
The Spartans dropped the fewest games at No. 1 and 4 singles, including Dajana Cvjetkovic winning at the top spot in the lineup over Chloe Kabamba. The NSU sophomore defeated Kabamba by a 6-2, 6-2 margin. And at the fourth slot, senior Andrea Macchiavello downed Cierra Plummer by the same 6-2, 6-2 score.
 
Freshman Marta Gomar earned the victory at No. 3 singles, taking care of Kayla Price by a 6-1, 6-4 score. NSU added its fifth point of the match when junior Liza Gordeeva finished a 7-5, 6-2 win over Danielle Thompson at the second position.
 
Senior Mafalda Lhorca trailed Chelsi Russell by a 3-0 score at No. 5 singles before the match was abandoned.
 
Russell and Plummer helped Morgan State win the doubles point with a 7-5 win over Cvjetkovic and Gordeeva at the top spot in the lineup. Thompson and Kabamba gave MSU the early 1-0 lead after the duo topped Macchiavello and Lhorca, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles.
 
NSU finishes the regular season on Sunday with a pair of matches at home. The Spartans will play North Carolina Central at 11 a.m. and honor senior Macchiavello before the match. They will then host Notre Dame at 5 p.m. at the NSU Tennis Complex.