News Summary
The NCCU women’s tennis team returned to competition after a 19-day break, facing a tough defeat against UNC Asheville. Despite their efforts, the team lost 7-0, with notable performances from Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and Gabriela Mejia Arenas. Looking ahead, NCCU is preparing for upcoming matches in Virginia. Meanwhile, Western Carolina secured a win against UNC Asheville, showcasing the competitiveness of North Carolina’s women’s tennis teams.
Asheville, North Carolina – A Tough Return for NCCU Women’s Tennis Team
After a lengthy 19-day break from competition, the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) women’s tennis team encountered a challenging match against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on February 27, 2025. The match, held at the Asheville Racquet Club, ended with a 7-0 defeat for NCCU, leaving the team eager to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
A Rough Start
The long layoff didn’t do NCCU any favors on the court. Despite their best efforts, the team struggled against a well-prepared Bulldogs squad. Among the standout performances for NCCU was in the No. 2 Doubles match, where freshman Mariana Zottoli and sophomore Patricia Palencia put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 7-6 to Avery Sager and Louise Booker, showing that the game was not without its nail-biting moments.
In singles action, junior Alejandra Hidalgo Vega represented NCCU in the No. 1 Singles match. She faced off against her Bulldogs opponent but lost in a closely contested match, with scores reading 7-5 in the first set and 6-4 in the second. Meanwhile, sophomore Gabriela Mejia Arenas, playing in the No. 6 Singles, had a split performance. After losing the first set 6-3, she rallied to a thrilling 7-6 victory in the second set, displaying determination and mental toughness even amid adversity.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, the NCCU women’s tennis team is gearing up for a busy weekend as they prepare for two matches in Virginia. They are set to take on Longwood on March 1 and Hampton on March 2. The team is hoping that the time spent off the court has allowed them to regroup and come back stronger.
Western Carolina’s Recent Success
In a related twist of fate, the Western Carolina women’s tennis team faced UNC Asheville shortly after NCCU and claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory on March 1, 2025. This win lifted Western Carolina’s season record to an even 6-6 while dropping UNC Asheville to 6-4.
Western Carolina faced early challenges, losing the doubles point with significant defeats in the No. 1 and No. 3 Doubles. Jade Groen and Chloe Schwarz faced an uphill battle and lost 6-2 in their match, while Madison Schwarz and Angela Perez fought hard but fell 6-4. Nonetheless, the doubles matches ended on a positive note when Isabella Sambola and Andrea Redondo had a commendable performance, leading their match 5-3 at the time the match concluded.
In singles play, Western Carolina turned things around. Groen and Perez each delivered standout performances that contributed significantly to the team’s comeback. Groen secured her match in straight sets with scores of 6-3 and 6-1. Perez made an impressive comeback winning her first set 7-6 and then dominating the second set 6-0.
Rounding Out the Match
The success didn’t stop there, as freshman Hokualohi Lui also captured a victory on the sixth court, defeating Valeria Centeno 6-3, 6-3. Moreover, Chloe Schwarz showcased her grit by coming from behind to take her match with a score of 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. This strong performance by Western Carolina set the stage for their next challenge against Kennesaw State on March 2 at 2 p.m.
As both teams navigate this competitive landscape, it’s clear that the journey of the women’s tennis teams in North Carolina is just heating up, with plenty of action to come in the next few days.
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Additional Resources
- UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official News
- NCCU Eagles Official News
- Western Carolina Catamounts Official News
- Wikipedia: Women’s Tennis
- Google Search: NCCU Women’s Tennis
