Men's Tennis | 10/4/2025 12:23:02 PM

Cary, N.C. – Norfolk State’s Yuliya Yurkova and South Carolina State’s Mikalai Bankou captured the singles championships at the 2nd Annual MEAC Tennis Invitational, held at Cary Tennis Park.

Yurkova earned the women’s singles crown with a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 victory over South Carolina State’s Valeria Teran in the championship match. On her path to the final, she defeated Morgan State’s Lauren Hall (6-3, 6-2) and Delaware State’s Catherine Goldman (6-7, 6-4, 6-3). The victory gives Norfolk State its first women’s singles title at the Invitational, after South Carolina State claimed the crown in 2024.

On the men’s side, Bankou outlasted teammate Iliyas Maratuly, 6-2, 6-2, in an all-South Carolina State final. His win marks the second straight year a Bulldog has taken home the men’s singles championship. Bankou, who opened with a first-round bye, went on to defeat Morgan State’s Rhajzon Rankin (6-1, 6-1) in the quarterfinals and North Carolina Central’s Rodrigo Alves (6-2, 6-4) in the semifinals before clinching the title.

Both Yurkova and Bankou secured the MEAC’s automatic qualifying berths to the ITA Conference Masters.

Final Results:

2025 Women’s Singles Finals Bracket

2025 Men’s Singles Finals Bracket