GREENVILLE, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University women's tennis team fell in a close contest at East Carolina University in a 4-3 defeat on Friday at the River Birch Tennis Center. The Eagles collected three singles victories in the outing.

NCCU (0-3) headed into singles competition down 1-0. Sophomore Patricia Palencia and freshman Mariana Zottoli triumphed in No.2 Doubles 7-6 to open the match before the Pirates won the final two matches for the first team point.

After their doubles win, Palencia and Zottoli also earned singles victories. Zottoli defeated her opponent 6-4, 7-5 (No.3 Singles) while Palencia was pushed to three sets winning 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 (No.4 Singles).

Joining her fellow Eagles with a singles point was Alejandra Hidalgo Vega in the No.1 slot. The junior came out on top 7-5, 6-3 for the final NCCU team point.

Filling the remaining singles slots were Valeria San Miguel Soria (No.2), Valentina de Aquino Monsanto (No.5) and Gabriela Mejia Arenas (No.6).

A postponement altered the next NC Central match. The Eagles were set to play at UNC Wilmington on Saturday but will return home and shift focus to Winston-Salem State University and Chowan University for a doubleheader on Feb. 8 at the Cary Tennis Park.

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