Women's Tennis | 3/20/2022 9:52:00 PM

By Marlene Estenssoro

EAST GREENSBORO -- North Carolina A&T showed tremendous improvement Sunday afternoon in women's tennis at the Dudley High School Tennis Courts against the Hampton Pirates. 

The Aggies did lose to the Pirates 5-2 to fall to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in Big South Conference play. But the Aggies, handicapped by having to forfeit two matches, did come away with two singles wins. One of those wins was made special because senior Marlene Estenssoro Pineda earned a victory on Senior Day. 

On Senior Day, Estenssoro defeated Franzene Tsui 6-3, 6-4. It was her second win of the season. Joining Estenssoro in the winner's circle was freshman Cielo Tapia-Cruz. Tapia Cruz improved to 5-4 on the season with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Laura Peralta. 

The Aggies forfeited the No. 3 doubles matchup. Tapia-Cruz and sophomore Florielvis Hurtado Pernaleta lost to Peralta and Zoe Walker at No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point for Hampton. Hampton completed the doubles sweep as A&T sophomore Manuela Jimenez and Estenssoro lost to Viktoria Ljungman and Milena Amedieva 6-2.

The singles competition started with the Aggies forfeiting at No.6. Hurtado followed with a loss to Ljungman, 6-0, 7-5. Tapia-Cruz and Estenssoro followed with their respective victories to make it a 3-2 contest. 

However, Hampton (1-9, 1-6 Big South) secured its first win of the season as Amedieva defeated Jimenez, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) at No. 2 singles. Walker added a fifth win as she defeated A&T freshman Trinity Oliver 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5.  

The Aggies will be back in action at 3 p.m. Friday against Queens University in Charlotte, N.C.