The Howard men's tennis team suffered a difficult weekend after falling to Virginia Commonwealth University, 5-0,  Norfolk State, 3-2, and University of Maryland, 5-0.

Howard opened up the weekend on Friday, Jan. 28 against VCU in the 4-1 Invitational. In doubles, George Diggs and Tonique Merrill were swept by Jordan Dyke and Camill Salomon (6-5, 6-4). Omar Haloui, Devard Wharton, Eric Chavous and Bogdan Dzakovic also fell to their Bison opponents.

Haloui fell to Tim Johannsen (6-0, 6-2), Wharton to Max Wennakoski (6-2, 6-1), Chavous to Filip Svensson (6-2, 6-3), Dzakovic to Alejandro Argente (6-0, 6-0). 

The Bison (0-5) competed in another 4-1 format as a result of time restrictions, with NSU on Saturday, splitting four singles and dropping a doubles match to the Spartans (1-3). 

Senior Chris Brown fell in the No. 1 singles match to Arsenio Culver, 6-4, 6-2. At the No. 2 singles Omar Haloui dropped to Ben Marks, 6-0, 6-3.

Howard's Eric Chavous and George Diggs mustered wins in the No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Although Chavous defeated Christian Romanzini, 6-2, 6-2, and Diggs recorded a win over Kent Austin, 6-2, 6-1, it would not be enough to take down the Spartans. 

Bogdan Dzakovic and Devard Wharton tried to give the Bison hope for a win after taking the first set of the doubles match, 6-2. Unfortunately, NSU would bounce back in second set, 6-3, and eventually won the tiebreaker, 11-9.

On Sunday, the Bison traveled to College Park, Md. to take on the Maryland Terrapins (3-0) in a series of singles matches.

Brown would be the only Bison to muster a win over Maryland in a three-set battle over Andy Magee (2-6, 6-3, 7-5). Diggs was also able to push his match into three sets. He eventually fell to Maryland's Michiel Doornenbal (6-1, 4-6, 7-5).

"Despite the results of this weekend, I feel that this team will round into good shape by conference time" said head coach Larry Strickland, "We have been up against some very good teams" 

The Bison will continue on the road to visit the Navy on Feb. 5 in search of their first win of the season. Listed below are the complete results of Howard's match against Maryland. Visit Howard-Bison.com for the latest news and results regarding Howard tennis.

RESULTS

Maryland 5 def. Howard 1

Jan. 30, 2011 – College Park, Md.

SINGLES

1. Christopher Brown (HU) def. Andy Magee (MD) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5

2. John Collins (MD) def. Omar Haloui (HU) 6-0, 6-1

3. Tommy Laine (MD) def. Devard Wharton (HU) 6-2, 6-0

4. Jesse Kiuru (MD) def. T. Staton-Davis (HU) 6-0, 6-0

5. Michiel Doornenbal (MD) def. George Diggs (HU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5

Jan Surovic (MD) def. Bogdan Dzakovic (HU) 6-3, 6-2