BOX SCORECAYCE, S.C. – North Carolina Central University made its debut in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Tennis Championship memorable by knocking off one of the top seeds in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center.
The fourth-seeded Eagles from the Southern Division toppled the North Division regular season champions Morgan State University, 4-2, to advance to semifinals. NCCU will play South second-seeded Bethune-Cookman University in the semifinals on Friday at 6 p.m. The Eagles lost a close match to the Wildcats, 4-3, in the regular season.
Senior
Tamina Kienka and sophomore
William East highlighted play for the victorious Eagles. The duo cruised to an 8-2 doubles win together before they both won their singles match to account for three of NCCU's four team points.
MEAC Freshman of the Year
Kert Kilumets was also instrumental in the Eagles success. Kilumets was triumphant atop NCCU's lineup after successfully partnering with junior
Thomas Persico to secure the other doubles win for the Eagles, 8-4, on the third court.
Kilumets (6-1, 6-2), East (6-2, 7-6) and Kienka (6-0, 6-1) all won in straight sets. Persico was leading his No. 5 singles match up 6-4, 5-5 when play was stopped after NCCU secured its four points to advance.
Kilumets (12-6) and East (14-5) were both named All-MEAC on Wednesday.
Senior Duk Young-Park – an all-conference honoree all four seasons for the Bears – concluded his impressive collegiate career at Morgan State with a highlight win over NCCU senior
Daniil Gerasimov. Young-Park knocked off the 2015 MEAC Player of the Year by matching 6-3 set scores to end Gerasimov's (17-2) 17-match win streak.
MSU exited at 4-11 overall.
NCCU's 11 wins is a program-best since joining the NCAA Division I ranks.
