DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's tennis team dropped a 7-0 contest at No.15 Duke University on Thursday morning to open the season.
The order of doubles competition was the pairing of Kennedy Hill and Candice Bernier, followed by the senior Jade Houston and junior Lafi Joao. Sophomore Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and freshman Patricia Palencia wrapped up the third doubles match as all teams dropped sets to the Blue Devils.
Exsted and Houston earned four total set points each before their Duke opponents won their singles match points. Houston faced #65 Shavit Kimchi in a 6-1, 6-3 defeat. Hill also went up against the 52nd-ranked singles player in the country, Katie Codd.
Hidalgo Vega and Bernier were halted in 6-1, 6-2 sets for singles. Palencia fought to extend her match with Iulia Bryzgalova but eventually closed the match in a 6-1, 7-6 defeat that included a tiebreaker.
The Eagles face another ranked opponent in their second match. NCCU travels to No.8 North Carolina State University on Saturday, Jan. 20 and is set to compete at 5:00 p.m.
#15 Duke 7, N.C. Central 0
Singles competition
1. Emma Jackson (DUKE) def. HIDALGO,Alejandra (NCCU-WT) 6-1, 6-2
2. #65 Shavit Kimchi (DUKE) def. HOUSTON,Jade (NCCU-WT) 6-1, 6-3
3. #74 Ellie Coleman (DUKE) def. BERNIER,Candice (NCCU-WT) 6-2, 6-1
4. #52 Katie Codd (DUKE) def. HILL,Kennedy (NCCU-WT) 6-0, 6-0
5. Iuliia Bryzgalova (DUKE) def. PALENCIA,Patricia (NCCU-WT) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
6. Karolina Berankova (DUKE) def. EXSTED,Isabelle (NCCU-WT) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Emma Jackson/Ellie Coleman (DUKE) def. HILL,Kennedy/BERNIER,Candice (NCCU-WT) 6-0
2. Iuliia Bryzgalova/Karolina Berankova (DUKE) def. HOUSTON,Jade/JOAO,Lafi (NCCU-WT) 6-1
3. Shavit Kimchi/Katie Codd (DUKE) def. HIDALGO,Alejandra/PALENCIA,Patricia (NCCU-WT) 6-1
Match Notes:
N.C. Central 0-1
Duke 2-0; National ranking #15
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,2,1,3,5)
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