Aggies hang tough with Norfolk State

 

NORFOLK, Va., March 25, 2007 – The North Carolina A&T women’s tennis team fought hard against Norfolk State, but then faced three tough teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s southern half and went 0-4 during the MEAC Southern Roundup over the weekend.

The Aggies probably needed at least one win to seal a spot in next month’s MEAC Tennis Tournament held in Raleigh. They are holding down the No. 7 spot at this time as they fell to 2-7 in the MEAC.

In addition to losing to Norfolk State, the young and inexperience Aggies were shutout by Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and S.C. State, three teams with established programs. Against the Spartans, freshman Jaymee Jones won in three sets over Flaminia Migone, 6-1, 7-6 and (7-0) in the tiebreaker.

The win improved Jones to 4-3 in conference play. Tareka Palmer won for the second time this season with a victory over Donita Peterson in No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-2. The team of Christina Ruffin and Porche Martin won in a doubles match over Peterson and Ashley Daugherty, but the Spartans were able to win two out of the three doubles matches to take the doubles point.

The MEAC Tennis Tournament is April 20-22. Head coach Andy Smith said one of his goals this season was to have his inexperienced team be one of the top eight teams that qualify for the tournament.