ORFOLK, Va. — The Morgan State men’s and Howard women’s tennis teams were predicted to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) northern division crowns, while the South Carolina State men’s and women’s tennis teams were selected to win the southern division, the conference announced today.
All preseason honors were voted on by the conference’s head tennis coaches and sports information directors.
On the men’s side, South Carolina State won the 2016 MEAC tournament championship and received the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship. Last year, The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 3-1 conference mark and a 12-9 overall record.
The Bethune-Cookman men’s team posted 3-1 conference record last season and were picked to finish second. Florida A&M was chosen to finish third, followed by North Carolina Central at fourth and North Carolina A&T State at fifth.
Morgan State was selected to win the northern division after posting an undefeated conference record last season (5-0).
Norfolk State was predicted to finish second, followed by Hampton in third. Howard was picked fourth, while Coppin State was selected fifth in the northern division.
The defending MEAC Women’s Tournament Champion, the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, were predicted to win the 2017 southern division crown. The Lady Bulldogs finished 4-1 in MEAC play, 8-11 overall, and earned the MEAC’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship last season.
Bethune-Cookman was predicted to finish second in the southern division. Florida A&M was picked third and North Carolina Central fourth. North Carolina A&T State and Savannah State round out the southern division preseason predictions.
The Howard Bison, who were 10-7 overall and 5-1 in MEAC play last season, are slated to win the northern division.
Norfolk State was picked to finish second in the northern division, while Morgan State third. Delaware State, Hampton, Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore round out the northern division.
The 2017 MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship begins April 20-22 at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.
For more information on the MEAC Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship and other sponsored sports, visit www.MEACsports.com