Hampton University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were predicted to finish first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) northern division preseason poll, while the defending MEAC men’s and women’s champions of South Carolina State were selected as the top choices in the southern division preseason poll, as voted on by the leagues head tennis coaches and sports information directors.

The Hampton Pirates concluded the 2008 season with a 5-0 MEAC mark and 8-8 overall record. They were chosen as the top pick in the men’s northern division poll unanimously with 20 first-place votes. The Pirates will return all of its letterwinners from last year’s team and will welcome three newcomers.

South Carolina State tallied 10 first-place votes as the preseason favorite for the south. The Bulldogs ended the 2008 season with a 3-0 mark in conference play and 18-4 overall record en route to their fourth MEAC championship title in five years and seventh overall.

Morgan State was predicted to finish second in the men’s northern division followed by Howard, Delaware State, Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore.

The Rattlers of Florida A&M, last year’s MEAC championship runners-up, earned nine first-place votes and were picked to finish second in the southern division. Bethune-Cookman and Norfolk State tied for third in the preseason poll.

In women’s action, the Lady Pirates received 21 of the possible 22 first-place votes to earn the nod to finish atop the northern division. Hampton posted a 5-0 MEAC mark during the 2008 season and an 8-10 record overall. They return five letterwinners, including 2008 MEAC Player of the Year Na-Hyun Baek.

The Lady Bulldogs, winners of the four consecutive MEAC titles, were the favorite in the southern division with 16 first-place votes. South Carolina State concluded the 2008 season with a 4-0 MEAC mark and 13-4 overall record.

Delaware State was chosen to finish second in the northern division. Morgan State earned one first-place vote and was picked to finish third. Howard, Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore finished fourth through sixth, respectively in the preseason predictions.  

Florida A&M received five first-place votes as the pick to finish second in the women’s southern division, followed by Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T.

Conference play begins on March 4 with four of the men’s and women’s teams in action. The 2009 MEAC Tennis Championship tournament is scheduled for April 17-19 at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

For more information on MEAC men’s and women’s tennis and other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.

-2009 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Predicted Order of finish listed below-