GREENVILLE, N.C. – Sophomore Kennedy Hill and freshman Alejandra Hidalgo Vega earned their first singles victories of the season; however, the North Carolina Central University women's tennis team was defeated 5-2 by East Carolina University at the River Birch Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.

Hill beat Isabella Rivera Ortiz 6-2, 6-3, while Hidalgo Vega outlasted Kim Auerswald 6-2, 6-1. Hill, who was a Second Team All-MEAC selection last season collects the 11th singles victory of her career.  

Also in singles play, freshman Candice Bernier fought hard but was outlasted by Ines Bachir (5-7, 6-4, 10-8), while Sophomore Isabelle Exsted fell to Joan Madi (6-3, 6-4).

Both sophomore Jade Houston and junior Maria Picazo Martin were defeated 6-0, 6-2 by Martina Muzzolon and Alisha Hussain, respectively.

Hill and Picazo Martin paired up in doubles to defeat Muzzolon and Rivera Ortiz 7-5.  Bernier teamed up with Hidalgo Vega and fell 6-4 to Bachir and Hussain, while the duo of Exsted and sophomore Lafi Joao were clipped by Auerswald and Becker (7-6).

NCCU falls to 0-2 and will return to action by hosting the Spartans of UNC-Greensboro on Thursday, Jan. 26. The action from Dr. James W. Younge Tennis Courts will begin at 1 p.m.