DURHAM, N.C. - The North Carolina Central University men’s tennis team opened the 2010 preseason during the three-day Duke Fab Four Invite at the Cary Indoor Tennis Center in Cary, N.C. Sept. 17-19.
By the conclusion of the weekend, the Eagles earned a doubles win and singles. Andres Perez and Alejandro Espitia retired North Carolina’s James Coxe and Taylor Meyer during the first day of doubles play. Espitia defeated Corado Tocci of Virginia Tech due to injury on day two of singles competition.
On the first day of competition, the Eagles participated in the singles round of 16 play and doubles quarterfinals, semifinals and consolation semifinals play.
Section A of singles consisted of junior Jack Waissen and senior Andres Perez. Waissen suffered a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Louisville’s Andrew Carter. N.C. State’s Julian Sullivan defeated Perez, 6-2, 6-1. Eagles Trey Chatman participated in Section B singles, Chatman loss 6-1, 6-2 to Virginia Tech’s Will Beck. Rounding out singles play was Eagles senior Alejandro Espitia. Radford’s Thomas Dehean defeated Espitia, 6-2, 6-2 during Section C.
Eagles Waissen and Chatman joined together for the Section B quarterfinals doubles. East Tennesse State’s Jesus Bandres and Jorge Varon defeated the duo, 8-2. During Section C play,
The Perez and Espitia duo advanced to the Section C semifinals, unfortunately for the Eagles Grega Teraz and Ordeig (East Tennessee State) defeated the Eagles, 8-3.
Eagles’ team Waissen and Chatman, rounded out day one with an 8-3 loss to Will Beck and Lucas Oliveria (Virginia Tech) during Section B consolation semifinals.
Day two of the invite began with doubles final play. Doubles third place play consisted of an 8-3 loss by Espitia and Perez to North Carolina’s Alex Rafiee and Cameron Ahari. Eagles’ Waissen and Chatman participated in third place consolation play, but efforts were not enough to overpower Iavn Machado and Alexander Kostanov (South Carolina). The duo suffered a 9-8 loss.
As the day progressed, the Eagles competed in the men’s second round singles play.
Eagles Perez loss, 6-0, 6-0, during the Section A consolation quarterfinals to Viktor Maksimcuk of Louisville. During the Section B quarterfinals, Taylor Meyer (North Carolina) defeated Chatman, 6-0, 6-1.
Men’s Section A singles semifinals play, consisted of 6-2, 6-2 loss by Waissen to Stijn Meulemans of Radford.
Eagles Chatman concluded competition on day two with consolation semifinals play, Chatman loss 6-3, 6-3 to Jorge Varon of East Tennessee State.
The Duke Fab Four Invite concluded with finals play.
NCCU’s Waissen and Perez competed in the Section A finals. Waissen loss to Lucas Oliveira of Virginia Tech, 6-1, 6-4, and Alex Rafiee (North Carolina) defeated Perez, 6-0, 6-2.
Eagles Chatman participated in Section B finals, Chatman loss 6-0, 6-2 to Rafeal Paez (N.C. State).
Concluding the weekend was a 6-1, 6-1 loss by Espitia to Dave Thomson of N.C. State.
The Eagles will continue preseason play with the HBCU National Tournament in Atlanta, Ga. Sept. 23-25.
