NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 13, 2020—The Morgan State men and women were each selected to win the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division tennis crown, while the South Carolina State men and women were both tabbed to take the Southern Division, the conference office announced today.
The polls were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Morgan State won its first-ever MEAC title in men’s tennis last season after going 14-6 overall and a perfect 3-0 in league play before defeating South Carolina State in the championship match. The Bears are expected to be the best in the Northern Division again this season, racking up 17 of a possible 18 first-place votes and 70 points. Norfolk State was picked to finish second in the Northern Division, followed by Howard and Coppin State (one first-place vote).
In the Southern Division, perennial contender South Carolina State earned 12 first-place votes and 80 points in being named the preseason favorite. Bethune-Cookman picked up two first-place votes in being named second in the preseason poll, and Florida A&M was voted third (one first-place vote).
North Carolina Central (one first-place vote) and North Carolina A&T State (two first-place votes) rounded out the men’s Southern Division poll.
On the women’s side, South Carolina State won its 14
th MEAC title last season, defeating Bethune-Cookman in the championship match after going 16-4 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in MEAC play. The Bulldogs racked up 14 first-place votes and 100 points in being named the Southern Division’s preseason favorite.
Florida A&M picked up seven first-place votes in being named second in the poll, followed by Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T State (one first-place vote).
In the Northern Division, Morgan State was tabbed the preseason favorite. The Lady Bears, who went 5-0 in league play last season, picked up 17 first-place votes and 70 points.
Norfolk State, Howard and Coppin State (one first-place vote) rounded out the Northern Division poll.
The 2020 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships will be held April 17-19 at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
For more information on tennis and other MEAC-sponsored sports, please visit
www.MEACsports.com.