DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's tennis team will make the short drive to Chapel Hill on Wednesday to take on number two-ranked University of North Carolina. The action is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. at UNC's Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

This is the second time the Eagles have opened the spring slate by playing against a nationally ranked UNC team. The Eagles opened the 2016 season at the fifth-ranked Tar Heels on Jan. 27. Overall, NCCU has played three nationally ranked foes since 2011, the most recent contest was against NC State, who was ranked 38th at the time (4/13/18).

During the fall season, the maroon and gray had individuals play across three different events. They started the year off with a second-place finish at the HBCU National Tennis Championships at the South Fulton Tennis Center.

The Eagles collected 22.5 points and freshman Alejandra Hidalgo Vega won the women's C flight in her first collegiate competition, and sophomore Kennedy Hill was a finalist in the women's A flight.

In doubles, Hidalgo Vega paired up with junior Maria Picazo Martin and made a run to the semifinals, and sophomore Isabelle Exsted and Alabama State's Timothee Leguad were also clipped in the semifinals.

On Oct. 7-9, NCCU hosted the NCCU Invitational at the Dr. James W. Younge Tennis Courts and multiple individuals performed well. Exsted won her flight without dropping a single set. She outlasted Daniela Koleva of Tennessee State 6-1, 7-5 and then beat Linden Patterson from Davidson 7-5, 6-1 to earn the championship.

Hidalgo Vega advanced to the semifinals before being defeated by Josephine Schaffer of Davidson in three hard-fought sets (6-2, 6-4, 10-5). Hidalgo Vega and Hill joined forces in doubles and fell 6-3 in the first round.

Sophomore Lafi Joao reached the quarterfinal round of the C flight after a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sevval Oszeker from Shaw, while Picazo Martin fell in three sets to Camryn McClure of Radford.

The final fall competition was the ITA Carolina Regional hosted by Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. NCCU faced stout competition, gaining experience against Wake Forest, Presbyterian, and UNC Charlotte players.

Hill was the lone Eagle in the singles competition. Picazo Martin and Hidalgo Vega were one NCCU double tandem and they won one set in two matches, while Joao and Exsted linked up and won four sets.

After taking on the Tar Heels, NCCU will travel to Greenville to battle East Carolina University at the ECU Indoor Tennis Complex on Saturday, Jan. 21.