Palmer, Ruffin win final doubles match

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DURHAM, April 14, 2008 – The North Carolina A&T women’s tennis team will go into the 2009 season on a winning streak. The Aggies closed out the season with a 5-0 win over N.C. Central on Monday to end the season on a two-game winning streak.

The Aggies season ends at 5-15 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC. For second straight season, the Aggies failed to qualify for the 8-team MEAC Tournament, but with two promising recruits coming in and a young team built around sophomore Jaymee Jones and freshman Winnie Quick, head coach Andy Smith is optimistic about 2009.

“We improved this season,’’ said Smith, pointing out that the Aggies won two more matches than they did all of last season. “What we must do now is to continue to work hard. Our young ladies must come in this summer and work hard to improve their games. If we continue to work hard I think we can have a dynamic team next year and a dynamic program going forward. We didn’t make the tournament this year, but I plan on this being the last year we don’t make it.”

Even with all the talk focusing on next season, the two Aggie seniors did end their careers with victories. Neither senior was able to finish their singles matches, but Terika Palmer and Tina Ruffin did team together to win their doubles match over Gemesha Hickman and Stephanie Lee, 7-5, 3-6, 10-6.  

Quick won her final three matches of the season to end the season with a team-best 7-13 record. She was 2-2 in the MEAC and was 5-5 in her last 10 matches. On Monday, she defeated Tati Velasquez in singles competition. She then teamed with Jaymee Jones to defeat Velasquez and Ashley Rogers in No. 1 doubles, 8-2. Jones and Quick were the Aggies best doubles combination as they finished 6-8.

“It was important for us to win the doubles point,’’ said Smith. “I thought we ended the season by beating a very good Virginia State team and an improved N.C. Central team. I also enjoyed watching our two seniors winning their final doubles match together. That’s something they can take with them for the rest of their lives.”