COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The North Carolina Central women's tennis team got off to a winning start in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, defeating Delaware State 4-3 on Friday afternoon at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in its MEAC Round-Up opener.

NCCU (6-7, 1-0 MEAC) handed Delaware State its first conference loss after coming into the Round-Up with victories over Morgan State and Coppin State. The Hornets are now 4-5 overall and 2-1 against MEAC foes.

The Eagles took a 1-0 advantage heading into singles competition. Patricia Palencia and Gabriela Mejia Arenas triumphed 6-1 in No.1 Doubles and Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and Valentina de Aquino Monsanto topped their opponents in the No.3 slot, 6-2.

Valeria San Miguel Soria continued momentum up 5-0 in her No.3 Singles match before her opponent retired, giving the Maroon & Gray its second point. Soon after, Patricia Palencia was victorious in the No.4 Singles slot with a pair of 6-1 sets.

NC Central's final point came from Mejia Arenas as she triumphed 6-2, 6-0 in the No.6 position.

The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, March 29, featured in a doubleheader versus Howard at 9 a.m. and Coppin State at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation's East Capitol Campus in Washington, D.C.

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