Delaware State's first appearance at the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) National Tennis Invitational was quite a success. The Hornet women finished a close second among 20 teams at the annual event last weekend at the Clayton County Tennis Center in Atlanta, Ga.

Delaware State collected 20 points in the event, just one behind champion Bethune-Cookman. Perennial champ Southern was third.

Four Hornets also earned HBCU All-America recognition during the event. Ksenia Kozlova and Brittany Marshall were honored for their performances in singles and doubles competition, while Vanja Andonova and Marina Sicic were recognized for their doubles play.

Kozlova won three singles matches-two in straight sets- before falling in her bracket finals. Marshall posted three singles wins, including two straight set victories, before a semi-final loss.

Kozlova and Marshall were on opposite teams in an all Delaware State doubles final.

Marshall and Sicic outlasted Hornets teammates Andonova and Kozlova for a 9-8 (7-5) victory in the doubles championship. The win capped off a perfect 4-0 doubles record for Marshall and Sicic during the tournament.

Andonova and Kozlova won their first three doubles contests before the championship round loss.

The Delaware State women's tennis team returns five of the top six players from its record-setting 2011-12 squad.  The Hornets won a school-record 16 straight matches and captured its first MEAC Northern Division title last season.

In addition, DSU's Vanja Andonova was the 2012 MEAC Rookie of the Year.