DURHAM, N.C. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team earned a 5-2 victory against North Carolina Central on Sunday afternoon in the squad's final conference test of the regular season.
 
The Spartans (11-8, 4-1 MEAC) won the opening doubles point with triumphs in two of the three matches. Vladisav Gorbatenko and Frederick McRae teamed up for a dominant 6-1 win on Court 3, before Antoni Pankowski and Jakub Solarski won 6-3 at the top position. Norfolk State nearly recorded a sweep, but the Eagles (6-13, 3-1) pulled off a narrow 7-6 (7) result on Court 2.  
 
North Carolina Central tied the match 1-1 as Hugo Hidalgo took down Gorbatenko 6-0, 6-4 at the top position. Holding a firm 6-3, 5-3 advantage on Court 3, Solarski defeated Leo Fortier by opponent retirement to regain the lead for NSU.
 
Pankowski improved to 2-0 on the day with a 6-3, 6-4 win at the No. 4 slot over Naresh Bharathy. Kareem Abdul Hakim kept the Eagles alive with a close 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-2 triumph over NSU freshman Deniz Okyay on Court 2 soon after.
 
Frederick McRae clinched the match for the Spartans with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Oliver Saarinen at the No. 5 position, the sophomore's 11^th consecutive singles victory. Boris Lunin added another point on Court 6 for good measure, defeating Shaka Cristellotti 6-4, 6-4.
 
The Spartans now have a week to prepare for their next showdown, facing North Carolina A&T on Monday, Apr. 15 at NSU Tennis Complex.
 
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