DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University men's tennis team played at home for the final time this season on Friday afternoon defeating Shaw University 7-0.

Before the match, the Eagles' lone senior Shaka Cristellotti was honored in a senior day presentation. After head coach D. Curtis Lawson and Cristellotti said a few words, NCCU prepared to face the Bears and wrap up the regular season.

Shaw (5-7) only had five players available to compete, leaving the third doubles slot and No.6 Singles slot empty. With an automatic doubles win at No.3, the Eagles needed one more victory for the first point of the match and ended up winning two. Junior Oliver Saarinen and sophomore Kareem Abdul Hakim triumphed 6-0 in No.1 Doubles followed by redshirt freshman Lucas Artigas and Cristellotti's 6-1 victory at No.2.

With a two-point advantage after winning doubles and Artigas' win by default in the No.6 Singles spot, NCCU never let up taking the remaining five points.

Freshman Leo Fortier-Gariepy defeated his opponent in a pair of 6-1 sets in No.2 Singles. Junior Hugo Hidalgo Vega was steady in No.1 Singles for a 6-4, 6-2 match in his favor.

Sophomore Naresh Bharathy took the next point in No.3 Singles winning 6-3, 6-0. Cristellotti followed suit with his second victory of the day, this time in No.4 Singles coming out on top 6-4, 6-3.

Sophomore Neiman Sneed closed out the match with a gritty triumph in No.5 Singles to complete the shutout. After dropping the first set, Sneed came back to win the second 6-2. In the tiebreaker, Sneed scored 10 points first for the final match point.

NC Central (7-14, 3-2 MEAC) will gear up to compete in the postseason at the 2024 MEAC Tennis Championships on April 25-27. All matches take place at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C.

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