GREENSBORO, N.C. - 352 days removed from their final match of 2020, UNCG women's tennis returns to play this Thursday, on the road against Norfolk State. The Spartans had built up some winning momentum last spring before seeing their season cut short due to COVID. They'll hope that their active streak of three straight match wins can turn to four consecutive when facing the Spartans of Norfolk State at NSU Tennis Complex this week.
WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Norfolk State
Where: Norfolk, Va. | NSU Tennis Complex
When: Thursday, February 25 | 2 p.m.
MATCHUP HISTORY
• Thursday's matchup will be the first between Norfolk State and UNCG during the spring season
• NSU did come to a fall tournament hosted by UNCG back in 2010, competing in the UNCG Doubles Challenge in October of that year
THE SPARTANS
• Erika Barquero, Sophia Adams and Brianna Gomez tied for a team-high seven singles wins in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, with Barquero and Adams competing in the first and second seeds respectively. All three return for the Spartans in 2021
• Hanna Giddings was UNCG's top performer in doubles play last year. Partnering with both Barquero and Adams, the redshirt sophomore posted an 8-2 record in 2020 with a perfect 5-0 mark when playing in the second pairing
• The Spartans ended the season hot last year, winning three unanswered matches before the campaign was cut short. UNCG outscored their opponents 18-3 during those final three contests, one of which was a 5-2 win over Western Carolina, in the Spartans' SoCon opener
THE OTHER SPARTANS
• This will be Norfolk State's second match of the season, opening up the spring with a 7-0 blanking of Division III Virginia Wesleyan on the 23rd
• The NSU Spartans opened the 2020 season with a 1-4 record, with their lone win coming against Savannah State in the 'Spring Tennis Fest' event in Hilton Head, S.C.
COMING UP NEXT
The Spartans have a quick turnaround, opening Southern Conference play against Western Carolina in Cullowhee on the 27th. The Catamounts were the only SoCon team UNCG had the opportunity to play last year, with the Spartans emerging victorious in a 5-2 final.
-- UNCG –
