The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) completed day one of the 2009 MEAC Tennis Championships today at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Hampton Lady Pirates, who earned the top seed in the northern division, topped No. 4 North Carolina A&T 4-0. The Lady Pirates won the doubles point 9-8 and 8-6. In singles action, Hampton won at the number one, two and six positions to gain the victory.
The No. 3 southern division seed, Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats defeated Howard, the second seed in the northern division, 4-0. The Lady Wildcats won the doubles point and won three individual games in straight sets to advance to tomorrow’s semifinal.
Defending MEAC champion South Carolina State will face the Lady Wildcats in tomorrow’s semifinal game at 8:30 a.m. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Morgan State 4-0 winning the doubles point and singles points at the number one, four and six spots. Florida A&M topped Delaware State 4-1and will face Hampton in the second semifinal game also beginning tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. The Lady Rattlers were up 1-0 after the doubles point and captured the number one, four and five singles position.
On the men’s side, No. 1 Hampton defeated No. 4 Norfolk State, 4-2. The Pirates lead 1-0 after winning the doubles point and notched wins at the number four, five and six singles spots to advance. The Pirates will face off against No. 2 (S) Florida A&M Rattlers tomorrow at noon. The Rattlers topped Howard 4-0 to advance.
Bethune-Cookman defeated Morgan State, 4-1, in the other men’s morning action. The Wildcats won the doubles point and followed up with singles wins at the number four through six spots. Juan Ortiz topped Emil Vassilev 6-2, 6-1 to win the only singles point for the Bears.
South Carolina State, the reigning MEAC men’s champion, defeated Delaware State 4-0 and will meet Bethune-Cookman in the second men’s semifinal match tomorrow. The Bulldogs won the doubles point and earned wins at the number one, five and six singles positions.
Tennis action continues tomorrow with semifinal play beginning 8:30 a.m. for the women and noon for the men. The championships conclude on Sunday, April 19 beginning at 9 a.m. with the women’s championship final followed by the men’s championship finale at 11:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.