NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men's tennis claimed its first win in six years over long-time conference powerhouse South Carolina State with a 4-2 victory on Friday. The Spartans (3-4) snapped a six-match losing streak against the Bulldogs (2-10), a thorn in NSU's side in recent years.
 
S.C. State has ended NSU's season three years running, including victories over the Spartans in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament in 2017 and 2018, and has claimed 12 of the last 14 contested MEAC Tournaments.
 
The threat of inclement weather altered the typical order of operation, and singles matches were contested first. No doubles matches were played because the Spartans won four singles flights to clinch the match.
 
NSU earned victories at No. 1, No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
 
Vini Da Silva earned a narrow three-set victory over Juan Ramirez – a 2018 All-MEAC second teamer –  on the first court. Da Silva split the first two sets – 6-4, 2-6 – before eking out a 7-6 win in the third.
 
Andres Alcaraz handled Aleska Daskalovic in a battle of first team all-conference performers in the No. 2 flight. Alcaraz posted scores of 6-4 and 6-3 in the sweep.
 
Agustin Carrizo and Ignacio Guevel picked up straight-set wins in the No. 5 and No. 6 matches, respectively. Carrizo logged a 6-1, 6-4 win, and Guevel prevailed over Selim Ben Ali – 6-4, 6-3.
 
Marcelo Rodriguez downed Flavian Fernandez by a 6-2, 6-1 margin in the third-seeded flight. Omer Gorgun also defeated Dan Dumitrascu – 6-2, 6-3.
 
Three more home matches in a row and the start of conference play are on tap for the Spartans. NSU hosts UC Riverside and James Madison on March 28 and 29, respectively, before opening MEAC competition against Howard on March 30.