The 2008 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tennis Championships will feature the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs and Norfolk State Spartans in the women’s final beginning at 9 a.m. followed by the South Carolina State Bulldogs and the Rattlers of Florida A&M in the men’s finale at 11:30 a.m. at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, who earned the top seed in the south, defeated the third seeded Florida A&M 4-0 and will compete for their fourth straight MEAC women’s tennis title and fifth overall. The Lady Bulldogs dominated in doubles action winning the point at the number one doubles position 8-1 and the number three spot, 8-1. In singles play, South Carolina State won the number two, three, and five singles positions to advance.
The Hampton Lady Pirates and Norfolk State Spartans battled back and forth in the other women’s semifinal match. Tied at 3-3, Norfolk State’s Lerissa Morris and Hampton’s Kelli Young competed at the number four singles position to decide the match. Morris won the first set, while Young won the second set. Tied at 1-1, Morris defeated Young, 6-3, to help the Spartans advance to compete for their first-ever championship title.
In men’s action, top seeded Florida A&M Rattlers defeated the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman, 4-0 to earn a spot in the men’s title match. Florida A&M won the doubles point and followed with wins at the two, three and four singles position. The Rattlers have won seven MEAC men’s tennis crowns and will compete for their first title since the 2000 season.
South Carolina State defeated Norfolk State, 4-0 and will vie for their seventh title overall. The Bulldogs won the doubles point and claimed victories at the number three, five and six singles positions.
Florida A&M will face the South Carolina Bulldogs in the men’s championship final at 11:30 a.m. The match will be a repeat of the 2006 MEAC men’s championship final in which South Carolina State topped Florida A&M 4-3.
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