Women’s Tennis Falls Just Short Against North Carolina Central

Match Recap: Howard University Women’s Tennis

On March 29, 2025, the Howard University women’s tennis team faced a tough match against North Carolina Central (NCCU), ultimately falling with a close score of 4-3 in a MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) showdown held at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation’s (WTEF) East Capitol Campus.

The Bison took an early edge in the match, leading 1-0 after winning two out of three doubles contests. Senior Nadia Pegram (Naples, Fla.) teamed up with sophomore Imani Jean (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to secure a commanding 6-0 victory over NCCU’s Patricia Palencia and Gabriela Mejia.

Continuing their momentum, senior Jordan Grayson (Gaithersburg, Md.) and second-year player Ava Chambers (Wellington, Fla.) extended their doubles winning streak to three matches by defeating North Carolina Central’s Mariana Zottoli and Valeria San Miguel, 6-2.

Singles Actions

In the singles matches, Imani Jean claimed victory against Palencia in a fiercely contested three-set match, finishing with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Ava Chambers also triumphed in her match, easily defeating NCCU’s Valentina De Aquino in straight sets, with scores of 6-1 and 6-3.

However, Pegram faced a challenging match in the No. 1 slot, where she fell to North Carolina Central’s Alejandra Hidalgo with scores of 4-6, 6-1, 5-7. Ultimately, NCCU (7-7, 2-0 MEAC) managed to secure the win by clinching the other three singles matches, finalizing the match score at 4-3.

Looking Ahead

The Howard Bison (5-7, 0-2 MEAC) will look to bounce back as they conclude the MEAC Round Up against their rivals, Norfolk State, on Sunday, March 30. The first serve is scheduled for 9 A.M. at the WTEF East Capitol Campus in D.C.

For additional updates and information, please visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.