NORFOLK, Va. – The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs and the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers will compete in the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Tennis Championship Final on Saturday, April 23, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

The Lady Bulldogs, who entered as the third seed in the south, defeated top-seed Bethune-Cookman, 4-1, in the semifinals. South Carolina State took an early 1-0 lead going into singles play after winning the doubles as the number one (6-1) and number three (6-2) spots.

In singles action, the Lady Bulldogs won in straight sets at the number one, three and five spots. Intissar Rassif defeated Mina Matsuba (6-1, 6-1) and Andejla Vasic knocked off Ancia Ifill (6-3, 6-0). Bethune-Cookman’s Alejandra Vidal picked up a point at the number six position with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Carla Petreanu, but Dakota Brown sealed the win against Karen Romero (6-1, 6-1) to give the SCSU the match. South Carolina State will compete for their 13^th overall MEAC women’s title and first since 2014.

Florida A&M advanced to Saturday’s final with a 4-1 victory over fourth-seeded North Carolina Central. The Lady Rattlers won the doubles point and registered singles victories at the number two, five and six positions.

Shantel Blackwood defeated Mia Ramic, 6-4, 6-0, and Elizabeth Clayton knocked off Lauren Mullis, 6-0, 6-1. Aissa Muamba earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at the number one position to give the Lady Eagles a point, but Dominique Henry clinched the victory with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win over Tamara Jeremic.

Florida A&M is seeking its fifth MEAC Women’s title and first since 1997.