Norfolk, Va. – Looking to break out of its four-match losing streak, Norfolk State faces a familiar opponent on Friday, one that it has experienced success against this season. After defeating Hampton 4-0 at NSU Tennis Complex in the first meeting of the series, the Spartans (2-12, 1-5 MEAC) and Pirates (1-11) will rematch on Friday at 1 p.m. at Neilson-Screen Stadium.
Last Time Out
NSU only managed a point on the road against defending MEAC champion South Carolina State on Sunday, but the match featured much tighter scores than the final result indicates.
Breana Cook defeated SCSU's Nalanda Silva at the No. 4 position, Silva's first loss of the season in singles.
The Bulldogs swept the opening doubles point, with each match decided by three games or less. NSU freshman
Aleksandra Evdokimova lost to Rachida Berjane at the top of the singles lineup in a three-set thriller, dropping the deciding tiebreak 10-7.
NSU sophomore
Amber Fuller, playing at the No. 3 slot, cruised to a 6-1 result in the first set against Lasya Patnaik, before dropping the second 7-5. Fuller was unable to play the third set, giving Patnaik the win by opponent retirement.
Peek at the Pirates
Hampton enters Friday's match with a 1-11 record, the team's only victory coming against North Carolina A&T by a score of 5-2. Victoria Ljungman, Milena Amedieve, and Zoe Walker earned straight-set singles wins for the Pirates at position one, two, and five, respectively against the Aggies.
First Meeting
NSU defeated Hampton 4-0 at home on Mar. 11, the Spartans' first win of the season. NSU won theh opening doubles point with a new doubles combination, with Cook and Evdokimova winning 6-3 at No. 2 before Fuller and
Andrea Barcenas earned the point with a 6-1 victory on No. 3.
Fuller took down Ljungman at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-1, and Evdokimova defeated Amedieve 6-3, 6-1 at the top spot.
Laura Ruiz clinched the win for the Spartans, beating Franzene Tsui 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 4 slot. The match ended when NSU secured the victory, with the Spartans holding leads on two of the three remaining courts.
