CARY, N.C. (April 25, 2024) -- No 4. Morgan State defeated No. 5 North Carolina Central in round one of the MEAC Women's Tennis Championships in a close 4-3 decision that came down to the No. 6 singles match to decide the game.
North Carolina Central got on the scoreboard first after claiming the doubles point following pair of wins at No. 1 and 2 doubles. NCCU's Houston/Bernier defeated MSU's Hall/Smith (6-3) at No. 1 doubles, while teammates Hidalgo Vega/Hill overpowered Morgan State's Jankovic/Mitchell 6-4 at No. 2 doubles.
Iva Jankovic gave Morgan State its first point of the match with a two-set win (6-2, 6-4) at No. 4 singles against Patricia Palencia. Averiana Mitchell added another point for MSU with a No. 5 singles victory against Isabelle Exsted (6-3, 6-2).
North Carolina Central's Bernier tied the teams 2-2 after winning No. 3 singles against Hall (6-2, 6-4)
At No. 1 singles, Hidalgo Vega won the first set 6-4 against Evdokimova. After trailing Hidalgo Vega in the second set, Evdokimova made a comeback to force a seven-point tie break. Evdokimova had a 4-2 lead in the tiebreaker before Hildago Vega won four consecutive games to win the tiebreak 6-4, resulting in a 7-6 set two win. Hidalgo Vega's victory at No. 1 singles put NCCU up 3-2.
The Bear's Hanna Smith matched up against the Eagle's Jade Houston for a three-set match at No. 2 singles. Houston won the first set in a seven-point tiebreaker (7-6 (7-4)). Smith won the next two sets 6-1, 6-2, tying the team score at three all forcing a clinch situation at No. 6 singles.
NCCU's Lafilissa Joao took the first set over MSU's Stefania Moysiadi 6-4 at No. 6 singles. After a 5-5 tie in the second set, Moysiadi won the next two games to pull a 7-5 win tying the score at one set each. In set three, Jaoa trailed 3-2 until Moysaidi opened a 3-2 lead over Joao in set three and won the next three games to win 6-2, clinching the match at 4-3 and advancing the Bears to the semifinals.
No. 4 Morgan State will match up against No. 1 South Carolina State in the semifinal match on Friday, April 26, at 9 a.m.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
