CARY, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's tennis team completed its season after falling 4-3 in the first round of matches at the 2024 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tennis Championships on Thursday afternoon at the Cary Tennis Park.

The last time both teams met was at the MEAC Round-Up in late March. The Eagles were looking to defeat the Bears for the first time this season and move on to the semifinals.

NCCU opened the match with two doubles victories to secure the first point of the day. Sophomore Candice Bernier and senior Jade Houston triumphed 6-3 in No.1 Doubles. Junior Kennedy Hill and sophomore Alejandra Hidalgo Vega garnered the No.2 Doubles slot with a 6-4 win.

Morgan State (6-14) took a one-point advantage after winning No.4 and No.5 Singles. Bernier evened up the match after winning No.3 Singles 6-2, 6-4. Hidalgo Vega followed suit with a 6-4 first set victory. She battled through a tough second set with a tiebreaker 7-6 win making the match 3-2 with NCCU leading.

The Eagles' last two singles matches each went to three sets. Houston won her first set in tiebreaking fashion, 7-6. Her opponent would come out on top after winning the final two sets. Junior Lafi Joao came from behind in the first set for a 6-4 win before falling 7-5, 6-2 to close out the contest.

NCCU finishes the season with a 6-15 record and a .500 record in regular season conference play.

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