DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's tennis team will host the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tennis Championships that begin on Thursday, April 27, and finish on Saturday, April 29 at Cary Tennis Park. 

NCCU (6-15, 3-2 MEAC) secured the No. 3 seed and will battle No. 6 Coppin State University on Thursday at 2 p.m. The Eagles have earned the most wins in a season since the 2016-17 campaign (7). 

The maroon and gray roster features one individual with seven wins, three with six, and one with five. Also the Eagles have had four different individuals earn MEAC Weekly Honors this season. 

Freshman Kareem Abdul Hakim is 7-12 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Jakarta, Indonesia native has earned non-conference victories over Queens University of Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, and Longwood.

The Eagles' top player, graduate student Sebastian Pino, is 6-14 overall and 2-3 in MEAC competition. The Caracas, Venezuela native earned non-conference wins over UNCG, Eastern Kentucky, Longwood, and Hampton. 

Freshman Naresh Bharathy is 6-13 overall and 3-2 in MEAC play. The New Hill native has wins over Campbell, UNCG, and Eastern Kentucky in non-conference action.

Freshman Facundo Olmedo is 6-10 overall and 4-1 in MEAC play. From the six spot, the Miami, Florida native earned non-conference wins over UNC Asheville and Longwood.

NCCU junior Shaka Cristellotti is 5-8 overall and 3-2 in MEAC play. The Trento, Italy native earned two non-conference victories over Hampton.

In doubles play, the maroon and gray have three main pairings.

Pino and sophomore Oliver Saarinen are 6-9, Abdul Hakim and Bharathy are 4-5, and Cristellotti and freshman Liam Murtaugh are 2-12.

The winner of the NCCU vs CSU quarterfinals match will play against the winner of No. 2 Morgan State University on Friday at 12 p.m. The action on Friday and Saturday can be streamed via ESPN+.

For more information about the 2023 MEAC Tennis Championships please visit www.MEACSports.com