AGGIES DEFEAT BEARS

ALTAMONTE, Fla., February 24, 2006 – The N.C. A&T women’s tennis team continued play at the MEAC Round-Up, as it split a pair of dual matches, defeating Morgan State, 6-1, and losing to Howard, 7-0.

N.C. A&T ran its overall record to 4-2, including 4-1 in MEAC play.

The Aggies won five of six singles matches against the Bears. Christina Ruffin defeated Renae Alleyne, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Deandra Bailey knocked off Imani Willis at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-4, while Tracy Ross breezed past Aidah Rasheed, 6-0, 6-1. At No. 5 singles Terika Palmer stroked by Kemi Osunsan, 6-3, 6-2, and in No. 6 singles Shannon Pittman defeated Marjani King, 6-3, 6-2.

The Aggies’ No. 1 doubles team Ruffin and Kathryn Jackson earned their first doubles victory of the Round-Up, as they held off Alleyne and Walaa Elsir, 8-5. Bailey and Ross would clinch the doubles point with an 8-2 victory over Willis and Rasheed. Palmer and Pittman capped off the team victory with an 8-2 win against King and Osunsan in No. 3 doubles.

The Aggies will conclude the Round-Up against Hampton and Maryland-Eastern Shore  tomorrow. Matches are schedule to begin at 10 a.m.

North Carolina A&T 6, Morgan State University 1

Feb 24, 2006 at Altamonte, Fla.

Singles competition

1. ELSIR, Walaa (MSU) def. JACKSON, Kathryn (NCAT) 6-4, 6-2

2. RUFFIN,Christina (NCAT) def. ALLEYNE, Renae (MSU) 6-2, 6-0

3. BAILEY,Deandra (NCAT) def. WILLIS, Imani (MSU) 6-3, 6-4

4. ROSS,Tracy (NCAT) def. RASHEED, Aidah (MSU) 6-0, 6-1

5. PALMER,Terika (NCAT) def. OSUNSAN, Kemi (MSU) 6-3, 6-2

6. PITTMAN,Shannon (NCAT) def. KING, Marjani (MSU) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. JACKSON,Kathryn/RUFFIN,Christina (NCAT) def. ELSIR, Walaa / ALLEYNE, Renae (MSU) 8-5

2. BAILEY,Deandra / ROSS,Tracy (NCAT) def. WILLIS, Imani / RASHEED, Aidah (MSU) 8-2

3. PALMER,Terika / PITTMAN,Shannon (NCAT) def. KING, Marjani / OSUNSAN, Kemi (MSU) 8-2

Howard University 7, North Carolina A&T 0

Feb 24, 2006 at Altamonte, Fla.

Singles Competition

1. SMITH, Jasmine (HOW) def. JACKSON, Kathryn (NCAT)  6-3, 6-3

2. MARIN, Laura (HOW) vs. RUFFIN,Christina (NCAT)  7-6 (4-0), 6-2

3. WRIGHT, Aja (HOW) def. BAILEY,Deandra (NCAT)  6-3, 6-1

4. TOWNES, Cecilia (HOW) def. ROSS,Tracy (NCAT)  6-1, 6-1

5. FINN, Lauren (HOW) def. PALMER,Terika (NCAT)  6-0, 6-0

6. HIPOLITE, Ayana (HOW) def. PITTMAN, Shannon (NCAT) 6-2, 6-1     

Doubles Competition

1. SMITH, Jasmine / MARIN, Laura (HOW) def. JACKSON, Kathryn / RUFFIN, Christina (NCAT), 8-1

2. WRIGHT, Aja / FINN, Lauren (HOW) def. BAILEY, Deandra / ROSS, Tracy (NCAT), 8-2

3. TOWNES, Cecilia / HENDERSON, Nicole (HOW) def. PALMER, Terika / PITTMAN, Shannon (NCAT), 8-4