BALTIMORE (April 15, 2024) – Howard University men's tennis squad secured its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win of the season, downing rival Coppin State (CSU), 6-1, at UMBC Tennis Courts in Baltimore.
 
With the victory, HU snapped its four-match slide.
 
Howard grabbed the upper hand early, winning two-out-of-three in doubles play.
 
All-MEAC selection junior Marcel Dawson (Columbus, Ga.) and newcomer Kendrick Lash (Winston-Salem, N.C.) blanked CSU's Liam Murtaugh and Rick, Niekec, 6-0.
 
Seniors Gabe Knowles (Allentown, Pa.) and Pierce Westbrook (New Orleans) topped Coppin State's Ulugbek Abdurakhmonov and Tinashe Whata, 6-2, to give HU a 1-0 match advantage.
 
In singles competition, Lash defeated Nieke in a hard-fought three-set battle (6-2, 6-7, 1-0).
 
Junior Daniel Dunac (Washington) picked up his first win of the year, knocking off Abdurakhmonov in straight sets (6-1, 6-1).
 
Knowles, senior Justin Cadeau (West Orange, N.J.) and rookie Michael Major, Jr. (Nassau, Bahamas) also earned victories in straight sets.
 
Saturday (April 20) marks Senior Day as the Bison (4-10, 1-3 MEAC) take on Morgan State in the heart of D.C., at the Banneker Recreation Center. First-serve is slated for 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.