NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior
Miles Clark claimed singles and doubles victories to help account for both of North Carolina Central University's points in a 5-2 non-conference men's tennis road loss at Tennessee State University on Thursday.
Playing in NCCU's No. 1 singles position, Clark won his team-leading fourth match with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over TSU senior Maksims Kazijevs. The straight-set triumph was also his second win in as many days.
Clark, an All-MEAC performer last season, first partnered with classmate
Amit Baran for a 6-3 top-flight doubles win. The Eagles' tandem of senior
Sebastian Pino and Saarinen also won their doubles match by the same 6-3 score on court two to clinch the initial doubles point for the maroon and gray.
However, the Tigers won the other five singles matches in straight sets to rally for the triumph. Tennessee State improved to 2-10 on the season while NCCU returns home with the same 2-10 overall ledger.
Pino and Saarinen both lost a set tiebreaker in their narrow singles losses. Pino slipped up 7-6 (5), 6-1 to freshman No. 2 Daniel Perez Caraballo while Saarinen was edged 6-4, 7-6 (4) by senior No. 4 Leandros Misdrachis.
In another tight two-set battle, TSU junior No. 5 Pierre Copin slipped past sophomore
Shaka Cristellotti by a 6-4, 7-5 margin. Sophomore No. 6 Diego Britt-Alvarez started the Tiger comeback with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over junior
LaQuon Gilchrist and junior No. 3 Nil Moinet leveled the match at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Baran.
The Eagles will next play a trio of matches against the three Northern Division programs in the league when NCCU hosts the MEAC Round-Up at the Cary Tennis Park from Thursday-Saturday, March 17-19.
