Cary, N.C. – Norfolk State dropped its conference opener to Howard on Thursday, losing 5-2 in the Spartans' first match of the MEAC Tennis Roundup at Cary Tennis Park. Amber Fuller and Laura Ruiz earned NSU's two points on the scoreboard.
 
Howard swept the Spartans in doubles to take a 1-0 lead into singles play. Ruiz and Zada McMorris lost 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, while Aleksandra Evdokimova and Breana Cook fell 6-3 at the No. 2 position. Fuller and Andrea Barcenas lost 6-2 at the No. 3 slot.
 
McMorris lost to Howard's Alexandra Blackwell 6-0, 6-0, at No. 5 singles, and Hana El Sherif defeated Barcenas 6-1, 6-2 at the last singles spot. Ruiz grabbed the Spartans' first point of the day, taking down Yemisi Ifederu at the No. 4 position.
 
The final three matches went the distance, going into intense third sets. NSU freshman Evdokimova, just a day after earning MEAC Player and Rookie of the Week honors, got off to a flaming start against the Bison's top seed Jordan Grayson. Evdokiomva won the opening set 6-0, but dropped the next two 6-2, 6-2.
 
Cook also came up short in a three-set battle, losing 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to Howard's Nadia Pegram at the No. 3 slot. On Court 2, Fuller rallied after losing the first set 6-1, winning the final pair 6-3, 6-4 to earn NSU's second point of the day.
 
The loss dropped the Spartans to 1-6 heading into Friday's match against Morgan State.