PETERSBURG, Va. – The Norfolk State women's tennis team competed at the Dr. Robert Walter Johnson Memorial Tennis Invitational hosted by Virginia State University this past weekend. The teams that played alongside host, VSU, were North Carolina A&T, Hampton, Howard, Longwood, Norfolk State and North Carolina Central.

Friday was the opening day of singles competition, with three Spartans taking a victory. Zoe Fraser started things off for NSU, defeating Tori Alexander of Hampton (6-2, 6-4). Paula Fortuno split the first two sets in her match against Mania Sgez of Longwood, eventually falling in the third set to drop the match (6-3, 4-6, 10-6).  Bruna Goncalves was on the winning end of a three-set match, prevailing over Jamie Breunig of Longwood (7-6(3), 4-6, 10-8).  Joyce Fields advanced to the next round with a walkover win, while Siliah Burke of NSU dropped a three-set match to Zimaris Smith of VSU (6-2, 2-6, 10-8)

The three winners during the first day of singles continued into the quarterfinals on Saturday. Two Spartans had to face one another, with Fields taking a victory over teammate Goncalves (6-2, 6-2) to reach the semifinals. Zoe Fraser fell in her match to Yulia Almiron of Longwood (6-3, 6-4), while Fortuno was able to defeat Viktoria Ljungman of Hampton in a consolation match (8-4).

Doubles action began on Saturday, seeing two pairs of Spartans winning their matches. Goncalves/Fraser defeated Alexander/Peralta from Hampton (6-4), while Fortuna/Fields defeated Rabadan/Estenssoro of NC A&T (6-3).

Sunday's action saw Joyce Fields in the singles semifinal round in a match against Renata Rabadan of NC A&T. After dropping the first set, Fields stormed back in the second but fell short in the third and decisive set (1-6, 6-0, 10-6).

Both pairs of doubles teams also continued into the semifinals round on Sunday for the Spartans, each playing a doubles pair from Longwood. Fraser/Goncalves fell to Almiron/Nurgazieva (6-4), while Fortuna/Fields lost to Segz/Breunig (6-4).

Next up for the NSU tennis team is the Virginia Beach Singles Tournament hosted by the Cape Henry Racquet Club on Oct. 11-13.

Spartan Results:

Singles: Friday, Sept. 20:
-Zoe Fraser, NSU def. Tori Alexander, Hampton  6-2, 6-4

-Mania Sgez, LU def. Paula Fortuno NSU     6-3, 4-6, 10-6

-Bruna Goncalves, NSU def. Jamie Breunig LU    7-6 (3), 4-6, 10-8

-Joyce Fields, NSU       walk-over win

- Zimaris Smith, VSU def. Siliah Burke, NSU  6-2, 2-6, 10-8

Doubles: Saturday, Sept. 21:
-Goncalves/ Fraser def. Alexander/ Peralta HU 6-4

-Fortuno/ Fields def. Rabadan/Estenssoro NCA&T 6-3

Singles: Saturday, Sept. 21:
Fields NSU def Goncalves NSU 6-2,6-2

Almiron LU def Fraser 6-3,6-4

Fortuno def Ljungman HU 8-4

Leak NC A&T def Burke 8-6


Singles: Sunday, Sept. 22:
Rabadan NC A&T def Fields 1-6,6-0(10-6)

Doubles: Sunday, Sept. 22:
Almiron/Nurgazieva LU def Fraser/Goncalves 6-4

Segz/Breunig LU def Fortuno/Fields 6-4

* Full Results not yet released by Virginia State