Tough Start: Women’s Tennis Stumbles in ACC Season Opener Doubleheader

DURHAM, N.C. – On Monday, the women’s tennis squad of North Carolina Central University commenced its spring season at the nearby Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center, facing off against two opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles suffered defeats in both contests, 4-0, first against Virginia Tech and then concluding the day against host No.11 Duke.

NCCU (0-2) competed in both encounters to determine the winner as the team that accumulated four points first claimed victory.

Virginia Tech (1-1) had three ranked athletes as NCCU faced the 62^nd doubles team consisting of Charlotte Cartledge and Ozlem Uslu and the 124th-ranked singles player Laima Frosch. Juniors Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and Valeria San Miguel Soria fell 6-0 against the ranked pairing, and freshman Mariana Zottoli lost 6-1, 6-2 in No.2 singles to Frosch.

The other concluded singles matches were from Hidalgo Vega in the No.1 slot (6-4, 6-3) and San Miguel Soria in the No.3 position (6-1, 6-1). With the first doubles point at the match’s start along with three singles victories, the Hokies secured their inaugural win of the season.

The Eagles confronted Duke a few hours later for the second match. The Blue Devils captured the first point with two doubles wins in the No.2 and 3 slots. Hidalgo Vega and San Miguel Soria’s No.1 match remained unfinished against the 10^th-ranked duo Ellie Coleman and Irina Balus.

Duke (4-0) secured its final three points in No.4 singles over sophomore Patricia Palencia, freshman Valentina de Aquino Monsanto (No.5) and sophomore Gabriela Mejia Arenas (No.6) in straight sets.

The last three singles matches remained unfinished as the other Eagles contended with players within the top-50.

NC Central will not compete again until the month’s end with the Maroon and Gray heading to Greenville, N.C. on Jan. 31 to take on East Carolina.

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