Box Score ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Norfolk State took its first loss of conference play on Monday afternoon, falling 5-2 at South Carolina State.
 
The Spartans (9-8, 3-1 MEAC) remained competitive throughout the contest at Hardeep Judge Tennis Center but couldn't overcome the defending MEAC champion SCSU (10-5, 4-0).
 
Frederick McRae continued his terrific stretch of tennis, winning his ninth consecutive singles match on Monday. The Canadian sophomore took down Benjamin Niv 7-6 (7-1), 7-5 at the No. 4 position.
 
South Carolina State swept the opening doubles point, winning 6-3 on Court 1, 6-2 on Court 2, and 6-4 on Court 3.
 
Gabriel Johnson defeated Antoni Pankowski 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 5 slot, before Mikalai Bankou gave SCSU a 3-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-2 win on Court 2. Novak Novakovic clinched the team match by defeating Jakub Solarski 6-3, 6-4 at the top spot.
 
Deniz Okyay got the Spartans on the board with a 7-6 (7-3), 2-1 win by opponent retirement, the freshman's fifth consecutive singles victory.
 
Ivan Pauliuchenka bested Boris Lunin 6-4, 7-5 on Court 6, before McRae closed out the afternoon with his singles win.
 
Norfolk State returns to action on Sunday at North Carolina Central, closing out MEAC play.
 
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