DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore
Jade Houston and freshman Laif Joao clinched doubles in favor of the hosts and then they each won in singles to help lead the North Carolina Central University women's tennis team to a 6-1 non-conference victory over in-state rival North Carolina A&T State University on Tuesday afternoon.
The Eagles also got singles wins from freshmen
Kennedy Hill and
Isabelle Exsted in the team triumph.
NCCU improved to 2-7 on the season while the Aggies remained winless at 0-8.
Houston won atop the maroon and gray lineup in both singles and doubles. She first partnered with Joao for a 6-1 doubles win that secured the doubles point for the Eagles. It was their second doubles win together.
Houston finished off her day with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over sophomore Florielvis Hurtado Pernaleta.
Joao added her singles win on court four, topping senior Marlene Estenssoro Pineda by a 6-1, 6-2 margin.
Hill used matching 6-3 set wins in her No. 2 singles triumph over sophomore Manuela Sofia Jimenez.
Exsted capped NCCU's day with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 conquest over sophomore Trinity Oliver.
The three wins by NCCU's freshmen leveled all of their rookie campaign singles records to .500, including Hill (4-4), Joao (4-4) and Exsted (3-3).
The Aggies lone point came off the racquet of freshman Ciel Tapia-Cruz, who now has four of N.C. A&T's five singles wins on the season.
The Eagles is next scheduled to play four matches in the MEAC Round-Up that NCCU is hosting at the Cary Tennis Park from Thursday-Saturday, March 17-19.
