GREENWOOD, Ind. – The North Carolina Central men's and women's tennis teams had seven Eagles named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Teams. On the men's side, Oliver Saarinen, Hugo Hidalgo Vega, Kareem Abdul Hakim and Rodrigo Alves received honors, while Gabriela Mejia Arenas, Valeria San Miguel Soria and Patricia Palencia represented the women's team.

Both teams soared over the 3.50 cumulative grade point average mark, as 14 Eagles were named to the MEAC All-Academic team this season. Only four student-athletes per team can be selected for the CSC All-District Teams. The players must be at least sophomores with a 3.50 cumulative GPA or higher and have played in at least 70 percent of matches during the season.

San Miguel Soria finished above .500 in both singles and doubles play in her first season at NCCU after transferring from North Alabama. Mejia Arenas was named the Coaches Co-Most Valuable Player at the Eddies after a breakout sophomore year. Palencia finished with a 14-6 singles record, tied for the most wins this season. All three completed MEAC play 5-1 in singles competition.    

Hidalgo Vega finished his college career with First Team All-MEAC honors for the second year in a row. Alves and Abdul Hakim were named to the conference's Second Team. Saarinen was relied on in doubles play as the team captain, winning the Eagle Excellence Academic Award, Debra Saunders-White Leadership Award and Chancellor's Award for the graduating senior with the highest overall GPA at the student-athlete Eddies Awards. The men's team won the Faculty Athletic Council Award for the highest small team GPA at the NCCU athletic award ceremony.

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