Raleigh, N.C. -  The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) completed quarterfinal play of its Women’s and Men’s Tennis Championship at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday.

In women’s tennis action, #1 Howard swept #4 Norfolk State, 4-0, clinching the match at the number four singles position. Freshman Brooke Hawthorne topped Norfolk State sophomore Rebecca Graff 6-0, 6-2 to secure the win for the Lady Bison. At the number five singles position, Alyssa Works defeated Chenge Tsapayi in two sets (6-1, 6-2) and at the number six Anne Akhimien won against Maryna Kariuk 6-2, 6-1. Howard advanced to play Florida A&M in the semi-final round.

#2 Delaware State defeated #3 Bethune Cookman to advance to the semi-final round with a score of 4-1. The Lady Hornets moved into semifinal play with a win at the number three singles position.  DSU’s Christina Andrade defeated B-CU’s Andrea Paez 6-3, 6-2 to win the set for the Lady Hornets. In doubles action DSU defeated the Lady Wildcats in the number two and three positions (8-4, 8-2) to secure the point.

The defending MEAC Champion South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs swept Morgan State 4-0. Lady Bulldog Sabrina Mendez captured the win for SCSU at the number five singles position against Tireion Turner 6-0, 6-0. SCSU earned additional points at the number five and six singles positions 6-0, 6-0. In doubles , the Lady Bulldog tandem of Shuaila Jad and Maria Craciun defeated Pola Olczac and Alexis McCoy at the number two position 8-0. SCSU advances to the semi-final round to face Delaware State.

Rounding out women’s opening round action, Florida A&M defeated Hampton University 4-0 securing a position in the semi-final round. At the number two singles position, All-MEAC first team member Alexis Brown topped Hampton’s Calisa Reid 6-1, 6-3 to clinch the match for the Lady Rattlers. FAMU won doubles at the second and third position to gain the point heading into singles play.

On the men’s side, Norfolk State battled to upset number one seeded Howard University 4-1. The Spartans won at the number one and two singles position (8-2, 8-5) to gain the doubles point. NSU’s Brian Bullock clinched the win at the number six singles position in two sets 6-1, 6-1 against Tonique Merrell. The Spartans advance to meet Florida A&M in the semi-final.

The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats defeated Morgan State 4-2 in match number two of the men’s opening round. Morgan State would win the doubles point defeating Bethune-Cookman 8-5, 8-3. In the number three singles position, B-CU’s Santiago Lobelo battled MSU’s Dmitry Chekhlatyy in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-4), taking the advantage in two.  Aaron Benjamin would defeat Kip Jackson 6-2, 6-1 in the Wildcats victorious route to semi-final play. Bethune-Cookman will face South Carolina State in the semi-final round. 

With a sweep of Maryland Eastern Shore in 4-0, the defending MEAC champion South Carolina State Bulldogs advanced into semi-final play.  SCSU swept singles matches at the number two and three positions, clinching the win with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of UMES’s Osvaldo Rivera by David Grund. The Bulldogs are set to meet Bethune-Cookman in the final match of the day.

Closing out quarterfinal play for the men, the Rattlers of Florida A&M defeated Hampton 4-0. In doubles action, FAMU won at the number two and three positions with scores of 8-4, 8-2. At the number two singles position, FAMU’s Levan Clark topped Kenneth Greene 6-2, 6-0 aiding the Rattlers to a semi-final appearance.