CARY, N.C. – With the match tied 3-3, North Carolina Central's Sara Barbaric clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory over Presbyterian by winning a third-set tiebreaker on Saturday afternoon at Cary Tennis Park.

NCCU (4-6) jumped out to an early lead by sweeping all three doubles matches. Barbaric and Patricia Palencia handled business at No. 1, while Mariana Zottoli and Valeria San Miguel Soria earned a 6-4 win at No. 2. Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and Valentina de Aquino secured the No. 3 doubles point by default.

Presbyterian (6-9) fell behind 2-0 due to being down a player at No. 6 singles, giving de Aquino a win. The Blue Hose responded with a victory at No. 1 singles, but Zottoli extended NCCU's lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 4.

Presbyterian battled back with consecutive wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles to even the match at 3-3.

The deciding point came down to freshman Sara Barbaric at No. 5 singles. After taking the first set, she dropped the second in a 7-2 tiebreak. In the third set, with the score tied at 6-6, Barbaric delivered under pressure, dominating the tiebreak 7-1 to secure the match. The Eagles stormed the court in celebration following the dramatic finish.

NCCU returns to action quickly, traveling to UNC Wilmington to face the Seahawks on Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.