BOX SCORECONWAY, S.C. – Freshman
Gabriel Cucalon picked up a hard-fought win to account for North Carolina Central University's only team point in a 6-1 neutral site loss to Georgia Southern University on Saturday afternoon at the Coastal Carolina University Tennis Complex.
GSU moved three-games over .500 at 5-2 overall with its third straight victory. NCCU (0-3) suffered its third consecutive away loss to start the season.
Cucalon held off Georgia Southern sophomore Eddie Landin in the only three-set match of the day. The reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week captured the first set, 6-3, but Landin forced a superset tiebreaker with a 6-2 rally in the second set.
Landin had two chances at match-point in the third-set race but Cucalon survived both scares before winning the extended superset 12-10. Cucalon moved back over .500 on his young career at 2-1.
Sophomore No. 1
Kert Kilumets, freshman No. 3
Davide Callegari and junior No. 5
Dillon Strepay all lost in straight sets for the Eagles. Senior No. 4
Thomas Persico retired after a first-set loss. NCCU played with five players, forfeiting the sixth singles point.
Georgia Southern swept doubles with a pair of 6-3 wins in the two tandem tilts contested.
NCCU will make its home debut against Charlotte on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.
