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.
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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.
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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.
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Fuller recorded the Spartans' only point of the morning match, defeating Daria Julia in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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