Cary, N.C. – Norfolk State lost its morning match against Delaware State 6-1 on Saturday, but ended the MEAC Tennis Roundup with a 6-1 victory over Coppin State later that day at Cary Tennis Park.
Amber Fuller and
Aleksandra Evdokimova won 6-1 at the top doubles position against the Hornets, but it wasn't enough to earn the doubles point for the Spartans. NSU's
Breana Cook and
Zada McMorris lost 6-1 on Court 2, while
Andrea Barcenas and
Laura Ruiz fell 6-3 at the third spot.
Evdokimova jumped out to a 6-2 first set win at No. 1 singles, but DSU's Kit Yi Kay Au-Yeung won the second set before taking the match entirely when an injury forced Evdokimova to retire early in the third set.
Fuller recorded the Spartans' only point of the morning match, defeating Daria Julia in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.
Cook couldn't overcome Klaudija Lisovska on Court 3, falling 6-3, 7-5 after a close second set.
Niya Grant lost 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 6 position.
Ruiz and Barcenas both fell short in demanding three-set clashes at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, respectively. Iris Leder defeated Ruiz 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, and Baluck Deang took down Barcenas 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.
After a long layover between matches, Norfolk State took immediate control of the evening match with Coppin State. The Spartans snagged the doubles point after Fuller and Evdokimova earned a 7-5 victory at the top spot and Ruiz and Cook cruised to a 6-1 win at No. 2.
Evdokimova's injury forced the Spartans to move everyone in their lineup up a slot for singles play, but it didn't hold the team back. Megan Ettienne defeated Grant 6-0, 6-0 at the fifth slot for the Eagles' only point of the evening.
Fuller took over the No.1 spot with pride, earning a long 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Iva Jankovic. Cook also emerged successfully from a grueling battle, winning the second set 6-0 after dropping the first 6-4. Cook dominated the third-set tiebreak 7-2.
Barcenas took down Christy Turner 6-4, 7-5 at No. 3 singles, while Ruiz beat Mackenzie Jones 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4. McMorris won the final slot by default.
NSU's record improved to 2-8 with the weekend-finishing win, 1-3 in MEAC play. The team will return to NSU Tennis Complex for a home showdown with Drexel on Wednesday at 12 pm.
