NORFOLK, Va. (Jan. 16, 2019) — The Howard University women's and men's tennis teams were selected to finish second and third, respectively, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division. Both of Morgan State University's teams were chosen to win the division. The Florida A&M women and South Carolina State men were predicted to win the Southern Division.
The polls were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Howard received 43 points and one first-place vote for the men's team. Norfolk State received only one point higher than Howard to place second.
South Carolina State won the tournament crown in men's tennis last season, fighting off a tough Morgan State squad to return to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have been picked to finish first in the Southern Division again this season, coming off a 2018 campaign that saw them go 4-0 in MEAC play and 10-5 overall.
South Carolina State totaled 78 points and 10 first-place votes.
Florida A&M, which went 3-1 in league play last year, was selected to finish second in the Southern Division, picking up four first-place votes. Bethune-Cookman (three first-place votes), North Carolina Central (one first-place vote) and North Carolina A&T State rounded out the division's preseason rankings.
Morgan State won the Northern Division on the men's side last season after going 4-0 in conference play and has been picked to win the division again in 2019; the Bears racked 17 of a possible 18 first-place votes. Norfolk State was picked to finish second, followed by Howard (one first-place vote) and Coppin State.
Morgan State won the 2018 MEAC women's tennis tournament title, the program's first since 1994, defeating Hampton in the championship match. The Lady Bears notched 20 first-place votes and 139 points in being picked to win the division this season, with Howard (four first-place votes) tabbed to finish second.
Norfolk State, Delaware State, Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore rounded out the Northern Division poll.
Florida A&M, with 10 first-place votes and 122 points, edged out Bethune-Cookman (nine first-place votes, 121 points) as the preseason favorite in the Southern Division. Both teams were 4-1 in MEAC play last season, though the Lady Rattlers defeated B-CU in their head-to-head.
South Carolina State (five first-place votes), North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and Savannah State rounded out the Southern Division poll.
The 2019 MEAC Men's and Women's Tennis Championships will be held April 25-27 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.
2019 MEAC Men's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
Northern Division
School (First Place Votes - Points)
1. Morgan State (17) - 71
2. Norfolk State - 44
3. Howard (1) - 43
4. Coppin State - 22
Southern Division
School (First Place Votes - Points)
1. South Carolina State (10) - 78
2. Florida A&M (4) - 63
3. Bethune-Cookman (3) - 50
4. North Carolina Central (1) - 42
5. North Carolina A&T State - 27
2019 MEAC Women's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
Northern Division
School (First Place Votes - Points)
1. Morgan State (20) - 139
2. Howard (4) - 115
3. Norfolk State - 100
4. Delaware State - 65
5. Coppin State - 60
6. Maryland Eastern Shore - 25
Southern Division
School (First Place Votes - Points)
1. Florida A&M (10) - 122
2. Bethune-Cookman (9) - 121
3. South Carolina State (5) - 107
4. North Carolina A&T State - 69
5. North Carolina Central - 49
6. Savannah State - 36
