CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's tennis team was defeated 7-0 by #18 University of North Carolina inside UNC's Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Thursday night.
In singles play, NCCU sophomore
Oliver Saarinen put up a fight against the ninth-best singles player in the nation, UNC's Ryan Seggerman. The two competitors battled for two sets that ended 6-3, 6-2 in favor of the Tar Heel.
Junior
Shaka Cristellotti had flashes of brilliance and endurance but fell 6-2,6-2 by Benjamin Kittay. Graduate student
Sebastian Pino was clipped by Brian Cernoch (6-1, 6-1).
A trio of freshmen got their first taste of collegiate action and gained some experience against stout competition.
After a back-and-forth first set,
Facundo Olmedo was outlasted 6-3, 6-1 by Chris Li.
Kareem Abdul Hakim fell 6-1, 6-1 to Anuj Watane, while Naresh Bhrathy was defeated 6-2, 6-0 by Peter Murphy.
In doubles, Abdul Hakim paired up with fellow freshman
Neiman Sneed and was defeated 6-2 in their first college match by the #38-ranked doubles tandem of Kittay and Cernoch. Olmedo teamed up with senior
LaQuon Gilchrist and fell 6-0 to Murphy and Karl Poling.
Up next, NCCU (0-1) will take on Bull City foe the #20 ranked Duke Blue Devils on Sunday, Jan. 22. The action from Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center will begin at 6:00 p.m.
For more information about NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
