NORFOLK, Va. –  Victor Castro says he and his Bethune-Cookman Men's Tennis team are unique for a reason.

"It's this fighting spirit we've created," the Wildcat freshman said. "It makes us different. It's what we do."

What the Wildcats did Thursday is what they've done all season – grind out a victory, this one a 4-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference quarterfinal triumph over Norfolk State at Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.

BCU (7-9) will face South Carolina State in the semifinals Friday at noon. This was the Wildcats' first tournament win since downing Howard in the 2016 quarterfinals.

Norfolk State (5-10) briefly held a 2-1 lead after the first two singles matches concluded, but it was only a scoreboard lead.

Quietly and efficiently, Victor Bravo and Jose Plazas were in control of their No. 1 and No. 4 matches, and both Castro and Juan Navarro were taking their No. 2 and No. 5 matches into a third set.

"It is all about the grinding," Plazas said. "You're out there getting the best out of yourself and doing what it takes to win that match."

Straight set wins from Bravo and Plazas turned the 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 Wildcat lead to set the stage for Castro, who had taken complete control of his third set and was up 5-0. NSU's Andes Alcaraz managed to break serve and add an additional game before Castro sealed the deal.

Castro had already made a contribution during doubles point, filling in for Navarro as Plazas' team mate in the No. 2 spot. BCU took both doubles matches for the early 1-0 lead.

"We had some difficult matches today," Castro said. "Things were up and down, but we fought through it."

Head Coach Val Villucci was also impressed with her team's character.

"This victory showed the team's grittiness and will to win," Villucci said. "At any point, the match could have turned on us. Fortunately, we played the critical points like veterans, and in the end we got the result we wanted."

Everyone knows tomorrow's match against perennial power South Carolina State will be a tough task.

"We're ready for it," Castro said "We'll enjoy this one for a while, then focus on playing our best tennis tomorrow."

NOTES: BCU had defeated Norfolk State 4-2 earlier this season … The Spartans eliminated BCU in last year's quarterfinals … Castro, now 9-6 on the season, has now won seven straight singles matches … Bravo (8-5) is on a three-match winning streak … The Bravo/Phillip Lynch doubles tandem is now a team-best 6-4 … This was Villucci's first MEAC tournament victory as the men's coach; she's 2-2 with the women.