CARY, N.C. – North Carolina Central's men's tennis team won a tough battle, 4-2 over No.3 Norfolk State on Friday evening to advance to the MEAC Championship final for the third consecutive year. Awaiting the Eagles are the defending champions of South Carolina State.

NCCU (16-5) defeated Norfolk State in the regular season and needed to do the same in order to seal a spot in the championship match. The Maroon and Gray got off to a good start, taking the doubles point for a 1-0 lead into singles competition.

Hugo Hidalgo Vega extended the lead for the Eagles with 6-2, 6-0 sets over Vladisav Gorbatenko in the No.1 slot. The Spartans would however tie up the match with wins in the No.2 and 3 Singles positions.

Naresh Bharathy didn't let the tie linger long as he triumphed in No.4 Singles 6-4, 6-0 to regain the lead, 3-2.

With only two singles matches remaining, a former Spartan Antoni Pankowski, who is now in the Nest, won the No.5 Singles match in three sets to help the Eagles move on. Pankowski won two straight sets after dropping the first to secure victory.

Not only is this NCCU's third straight year competing for the MEAC title, but this is also the third time in a row that the men's championship final will be between NC Central and South Carolina State. The two teams meet again on Saturday, April 26 at 12 p.m. at the Cary Tennis Park. The match will also be streamed on ESPN+.

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