Norfolk, Va. – Despite getting off to a strong start by winning the opening doubles point, Norfolk State couldn't overcome North Carolina Central on the road Saturday. The Eagles won five of the six singles matches in Durham, N.C., with NSU freshman Aleksandra Evdokimova earning a victory at the top spot.
 
Evdokimova went 2-0 on the day, winning the No. 1 doubles match 6-4 alongside sophomore Amber Fuller. Zada McMorris and Andrea Barcenas lost 6-0 at the No. 2 slot, but Laura Ruiz and Breana Cook grabbed a 6-1 win at the third position to clinch the doubles point for the Spartans.
 
It was only the third time this season that NSU entered singles play with a lead, but unlike the previous two occasions, the Spartans couldn't close out the win. Fuller lost 6-1, 6-3 to NCCU's Jade Houston at the No. 2 spot, before Barcenas fell 6-1, 6-1 to Maria Picazo at No. 3.
 
Evdokimova took down Kennedy Hill 6-3, 6-3, evening the match 2-2. But the Eagles won the rest of the slate, as Cook, Ruiz, and McMorris lost in straights sets at positions 4, 5, and 6, respectively.
 
The loss brought the Spartans to 2-11 for the season, 1-4 in MEAC play. The team doesn't have much time to regroup, facing South Carolina State on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.