NORFOLK, Va., April 18, 2016 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the seedings for the 2016 Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships on Monday. Norfolk State women’s and Morgan State men’s teams earned the top seeds in the northern division, while Bethune Cookman took both the top spots in the southern division. The championships are scheduled for April 21-23 at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Morgan State (12-10) went a perfect 5-0 in MEAC men’s northern divisional play to claim the title. The Bears, who have won five consecutive northern divisional crowns, have won nine of their last 10 matches with one non-conference matchup left heading to head into the tournament.
Rounding out the north is Norfolk State (N2), Hampton (N3), and Howard (N4), respectively.
The southern division ended in a three-way tie with 3-1 records and co-champions for Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and South Carolina State. Bethune-Cookman captured the tiebreakers to take the top seed for Thursday’s first-round matchup. The Wildcats (11-11) will face Howard on Thursday beginning at 1:30 pm.
Rounding out the seedings from the men’s south were Florida A&M (S2), South Carolina State (S3) and North Carolina A&T State (S4).
On the women’s side, Norfolk State (9-11 overall, 6-0 MEAC) won the northern divisional crown with an unblemished mark. The Spartans open up tournament play against North Carolina Central.
Howard (N2), Morgan State (N3) and Delaware State (N4) wrap up the women’s northern division.
Much like in the men’s side, the women’s southern division standings ended in a three-way tie with Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M and South Carolina State all finishing with 4-1 records and co-champions of the Southern Division. Through the tiebreakers, Bethune-Cookman won the top seed from the south and will face Delaware State at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Rounding out the seedings from the women’s south were Florida A&M (S2), South Carolina State (S3) and North Carolina Central (S4).
Only the top four teams in each division compete in the championship tournament. Coppin State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Hampton, North Carolina A&T State and Savannah State’s women’s teams were eliminated from tournament play as a result of their conference finish. Maryland Eastern Shore, Coppin State and North Carolina Central’s men’s teams were also eliminated.
The 2016 MEAC Men's and Women's Tennis Championship begins with women's play on Thursday, April 21 at 8:30 a.m., while the men begin action at 1:30 pm. The women's semifinal rounds start on Friday at 9 a.m. followed by the men at 12 p.m. The Championship concludes on Saturday with the women's final beginning at 9 a.m., followed by the men's title match at 12 p.m. The championship is free and open to the public.