BOX SCORE

DURHAM, N.C. – The top four players in the Eagles' singles lineup all won to lift the North Carolina Central University men's tennis team to a narrow 4-3 non-conference victory over visiting UC Riverside late Friday.
 
The Eagles and Highlanders started the delayed match at the NCCU Tennis Courts at 5 p.m., which was originally scheduled for Noon because of wet weather in the morning. The battle was once again delayed for nearly another hour around 7 p.m. due to addition rain in the Bull City. The two teams then resumed competition at Duke University's indoor tennis facility with play finally finishing at around 9:30 p.m.
 
NCCU picked up its third consecutive conquest to improve to 6-11 overall. UC Riverside was playing its sixth match in five days during its East Coast spring break road trip. The Highlanders will be returning to California at 12-14 overall.
 
UCR got on the board first by sweeping doubles.
 
However, straight-set wins by sophomores No. 1 Gabriel Cucalon (6-3, 6-4) and No. 3 Davide Callegari (6-2, 7-5) flew the Eagles ahead, 2-1.
 
Freshman Theofanis Kontopoulos and sophomore Sebastian Bromley clinched the team victory in a pair of three-set affairs that became marathon matches with the delay to the second site occurring during their third sets. Kontopoulos ended his showdown first, winning by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 score on the second court. Bromley had to rally from a first-set setback to eventually win – 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 – at the fourth slot in the NCCU lineup.
 
Cucalon (10-7) and Kontopoulos (10-6) continue to lead the maroon and gray with 10 wins apiece. Callegari (8-9) moved within one match of .500 while Bromley (3-8) netted probably his most impressive win of the season.
 
The Highlanders won shortened eight-game pro sets at No. 5 and 6 singles after the team decision was already determined to close the final margin of defeat to just one point.
 
NCCU will go for its fourth straight win when the Eagles entertain Davidson University on Sunday at Noon.