DURHAM, N.C. – Senior
Miles Clark and freshman
Oliver Saarinen accounted for North Carolina Central University's two points in a 5-2 non-conference loss to North Carolina A&T State University on Wednesday afternoon.
Clark, who was named MEAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week for a third time just before taking the court against the Aggies, secured his team-leading eighth singles win of the season atop NCCU's lineup. Clkar held off Esteban Lopez by a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 margin for his third consecutive victory.
Saarinen also needed three sets to secure his triumph. Saarinen won a tiebreaker in the third set to pick up his 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2) win on court four over Ethan Baly.
The Aggies won the other four singles matches in straight sets to secure the team victory. N.C. A&T improved to 11-9 on the season. NCCU was unable to win a second straight home match, slipping to 4-14 on the campaign.
NCCU's other singles scores consisted of senior senior No. 2
Sebastian Pino (L, 4-6, 6-7), senior No. 3
Amit Baran (L, 1-6, 2-6), sophomore No. 5
Shaka Cristellotti (L, 1-6, 1-6) and junior
LaQuon Gilchrist (L, 3-6, 1-6).
The Aggies swept doubles. In the tightest bout, N.C. A&T's top tandem had to rally from a 3-2 deficit to defeat Clark and Baran.
NC Central will wrap up its 2022 regular season with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match against South Carolina State University. The Eagles will host the Bulldogs on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m.
