Women's Tennis 4/18/2008 4:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

MEAC Tennis Championships Begin Today

The MEAC will hosts the 2008 Men's and Women's Tennis Championship Friday, April 18 through Sunday April 20 at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Hampton Lady Pirates and South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs earned the top seeds in the northern and southern division, respectively.

Hampton posted a 5-0 mark in MEAC play and will contend for their first MEAC women's tennis crown since the 2004 season. South Carolina State, the reigning MEAC champion, will compete or thier fourth consecutive MEAC women's tennis title. Hampton will open up play against Bethune-Cookman, who earned the fourth seed in the south, on Friday April 18 at 8:30 a.m., while South Carolina State will take on Morgan State, Friday at noon.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers will face the Howard Lady Bison at 8:30 a.m. The second seeded Norfolk State Spartans will compete agianst the Lady Hornets of Delaware State, who earned the third seed, beginning at noon on Friday.

On the men's side, Hampton clinched the top seed in the north with an unblemshied 5-0 conference record. The Pirates won the 2007 men's crown and will compete for their second straight title and ninth overall. They will face the fourth seeded Norfolk State Spartans at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

Florida A&M will seek its' first men's tennis title since the 2000 season when it matches up against Howard at noon on Friday. The Rattlers, who were runners-up at last year's championship, recorded a 3-0 conference mark to clinch the top spot in the south.

Bethune-Cookman, who earned the third seed in the south, will face Morgan State, the second seed in the northern division, Friday at 8:30 a.m. Second seed South Carolina State will compete against Delaware State, the third seed in the north at noon.

Tennis action continues on Saturday, April 19 with semifinal play beginning at 8:30 a.m. for the women and noon for the men. The 2008 MEAC Tennis Championships will conclude on Sunday, April 20 beginning at 9 a.m. with the women's championship final. The men's championship finale will follow at 11:30 a.m.