ELON, N.C. — Freshman Lafilissa Joao picked up three wins to highlight play for the North Carolina Central University women's tennis team at the Elon Invite hosted by Elon University at the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center over the weekend of Oct. 29-30.
 
Joao notched two consecutive singles wins in the Acorn Flight and partnered with sophomore Jade Houston for a doubles win the Maroon Flight.
 
After dropping her first singles match to William & Mary senior Lisa Fukutoku, Joao tallied her two singles wins on Saturday. Joao first knocked off Virginia Tech sophomore Lily Hackbirth (6-1, 6-3) before securing her second win of the day against William & Mary junior Alisia Manolescu (6-3, 6-1).
 
Joao and Houston registered their doubles win, 8-4, against the Elon tandem of junior Shauna Galvin and freshman Sarah Allen.
 
Freshman Isabelle Exsted returned to competition for the Eagles and was involved in NCCU's other two victories, winning in both singles and doubles.  
 
In her third singles match of the two-day competition, Exsted prevailed over Liberty freshman Elsa Kirch by a margin of 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the Acorn Flight.
 
A day earlier, Exsted and sophomore Maria Picazo got in the win column against the Virginia Tech team of Hackbirth and junior Kirsten Husted by an 8-5 margin in the Maroon Flight.
 
NCCU will announce its spring 2022 schedule before play starts in late January. Fans are encouraged to visit NCCUEaglePride.com for the most up-to-date information throughout the season.
 
Gold Singles Flight

Sibel Tanik (Elon) def. Jade Houston (NCCU), 7-6 (5), 6-2
Elisa van Meeteren (W&M) def. Jade Houston (NCCU), 6-4, 7-5
Lizette Reding (Elon) def. Jade Houston (NCCU), 6-0, 6-3
 
Maroon Singles Flight
 
Victoria Saldh (Elon) def. Kennedy Hill (NCCU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Sabina Richtrova (VT) def. Kennedy Hill (NCCU), 6-2, 6-4
 
Powell Singles Flight
 
Willa Rogers (Liberty) def. Hannah Gaines (NCCU), 6-1, 6-3
Alison O'Dea (Elon) def. Hannah Gaines (NCCU), 6-4, 6-1
 
Ine Stange (W&M) def. Maria Picazo (NCCU), 6-4, 6-1
Kirsten Husted (VT) def. Maria Picazo (NCCU), 6-1, 6-1
 
Acorn Singles Flight
 
Lisa Fukutoku (W&M) def. Lafilissa Joao (NCCU), 6-4, 6-2
Lafilissa Joao (NCCU) def. Lily Hackbirth (VT), 6-1, 6-3
Lafilissa Joao (NCCU) def. Alisia Manolescu (W&M), 6-3, 6-1
 
Sarah Allen (Elon) def. Isabelle Exsted (NCCU), 0-6, 6-1, 6-4
Alisia Manolescu (W&M) def. Isabelle Exsted (NCCU), 7-5, 6-2
Isabelle Exsted (NCCU) def. Elsa Kirch (Liberty), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
 
Elsa Kirch (Liberty) def. Anaiah Jones (NCCU), 6-2, 6-1
 
Maroon Doubles Flight
 
Elisa van Meeteren/Ine Stange (W&M) def. Jade Houston/Lafilissa Joao (NCCU), 8-6
Jade Houston/Lafilissa Joao (NCCU) def. Sarah Allen/Shauna Galvin (Elon), 8-4
 
Kensie Cricchio/Alisia Manolescu (W&M) def. Isabelle Exsted/Maria Picazo (NCCU), 8-2
Isabelle Exsted/Maria Picazo (NCCU) def. Lily Hackbirth/Kirsten Husted (VT), 8-5
 
Gold Doubles Flight
 
Lizette Reding/Sibel Tanik (Elon) def. Kennedy Hill/Hannah Gaines (NCCU), 8-6
Semra Aksu/Erika Cheng (VT) def. Kennedy Hill/Hannah Gaines (NCCU), 8-5
Alexandra Almborg/Maretha Burger (Liberty) def. Kennedy Hill/Hannah Gaines (NCCU), 8-2