BOX SCOREDURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University improved to 4-0 in non-conference games against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) squads from the Northern Division after knocking off Hampton University, 6-1, at the NCCU Tennis Courts Monday afternoon.
The Eagles got back in the win column for the third time in their last four matches with five singles wins.
NCCU leveled its overall record at 9-9 and prevented the Pirates from winning a third straight contest. Hampton left town at 4-12.
The Eagles won a pair of hard-fought doubles matches to secure the first team point. Sophomore
William East and senior
Tamina Kienka held on for an 8-6 triumph in the middle match before seniors
Daniil Gerasimov and
Fabrice George won an extended bout in the top tier while knowing NCCU's third doubles tandem was trailing late in its match. The Pirates trailed 8-7 but forced a tiebreaker after breaking NCCU but Gerasimov and George responded with a dominating 7-3 tiebreaker to win 9-8.
Gerasimov (6-0, 6-2) picked up the Eagles most dominating singles win in the second slot. Gerasimov (16-1) has won a staggering 16 straight singles matches.
NCCU freshman No. 1
Kert Kilumets (6-4, 6-1), senior No. 5
Tamina Kienka (6-4, 7-5) and junior No. 6
Thomas Persico (6-1, 6-2) also won in straight sets. East (6-0, 4-6, 6-4) had to work harder for his win that went three sets.
Kilumets (10-6) and East (13-5) have both won four consecutive matches. Kienka and Persico each tallied their fifth wins of the season.
Lakshmana Satchithananthan prevented Hampton from being shutout with the Pirates only point mustering a straight set win at No. 4 singles.
NCCU will continue its final home stand with a non-conference tilt against Longwood University on Friday at 1 p.m.
