CARY, N.C. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team (6-9, 1-0 Big South) battled to the end on Saturday afternoon (March 21) but came up short, falling to NC Central 4-3 at Cary Tennis Park.

The Blue Hose picked up singles victories on the top three courts, but the Eagles won the doubles point and posted singles wins on courts four, five, and six to clinch the victory.

NC Central won on all three doubles courts to open the match, taking a 1-0 lead over Presbyterian.

The Eagles went ahead 2-0 before Roxy Valdes got the Blue Hose on the board, dominating to a 6-3, 6-3 victory on the top singles court. 

NC Central followed with a win on court four, but the Blue Hose showed their resiliency through their response. Grace Katzman dropped her first set to Patricia Palencia but fought her way to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win on court three.

Shortly after, Ladina Bruhin tied the match with a victory over Valeria Miguel Soria. Burhin split sets with Soria and came through in the decider, tying the match with an emphatic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory on court two.

The match came down to court four. Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo lost her first set to Sara Barbaric but took a narrow tiebreaker in the second set to force one more set. In the third, Rodrido Hidalgo stayed with Barbaric throughout the decider but came up short in the end. Barbaric won a third-set tiebreaker to clinch the victory for the Eagles.

The Blue Hose only had five players available.

TEAM NOTES
- Roxy Valdes made her debut on the top singles court, picking up a straight-set victory.

- Ladina Bruhin played her first singles match of the season on court two, coming out victorious.

- Grace Katzman and Bruhin are now tied for the most singles wins on the team this year with six.

NC Central 4, Presbyterian 3 
Singles competition 

1. Roxana Valdes (PC) def. Alejandro Vega (NCCU) 6-3, 6-3 

2. Ladina Bruhin (PC) def. Valeria Miguel Soria (NCCU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 

3. Grace Katzman (PC) def. Patricia Palencia (NCCU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 

4. Mariana Zottoli (NCCU) def. Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo (PC) 6-3, 6-2 

5. Sara Barbaric (NCCU) def. Mary Ellen Longmire (PC) 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-1) 

6. Valentina de Aquino (NCCU) def. No player (PC), by forfeit 

Doubles competition 
1. Sara Barbaric/Patricia Palencia (NCCU) def. Mary Ellen Longmire/Grace Katzman (PC) 6-3 

2. Mariana Zottoli/Valeria Miguel Soria (NCCU) def. Roxana Valdes/Ladina Bruhin (PC) 6-4 

3. Valentina de Aquino/Alejandro Vega (NCCU) def. No player/No player (PC), by forfeit 

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,1,4,2,3,5)

UP NEXT
The Blue Hose conclude the weekend on the road, taking on UNC Greensboro tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.