VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., - South Carolina State University's men's and women's tennis teams were predicted to finish first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) southern division preseason poll. Hampton University's men's and women's tennis teams were chosen as the top choices in the northern
division as voted on by the conference's head tennis coaches and sports information directors.
The defending MEAC champion South Carolina State Bulldogs concluded the 2009 season with an unblemished 3-0 MEAC mark and 11-4 record overall en route to their fifth MEAC title in six years. The Bulldogs return a host of letter winners from last year's team including 2009 All-MEAC First-Team selections Tomas Dobrotka and Radek Pivonka.
Florida A&M was predicted to finish second in the southern division. The Rattlers were 2-1 in MEAC play and 13-6 overall a year ago. Bethune-Cookman was chosen to finish third in the men's southern division followed by Norfolk State.
On the women's side, the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, winners of five consecutive MEAC titles, received 18-of-20 first-place votes for the first place nod. The Lady Bulldogs were 4-0 in MEAC play and 12-4 overall last season. S.C. State returns a young and talented squad including the 2009 MEAC Rookie of the Year Aniko Kiss.
The Howard Lady Bison (4-11 MEAC, 6-11 overall) were chosen to finish in second. Delaware State was picked to finish in third followed by Morgan State, Maryland Eastern Shore, and Coppin State to complete the northern divisional picks.
Conference play begins March 4 when Bethune-Cookman takes on Norfolk State in men's action and six teams on the women's side take to the court. The 2010 MEAC Tennis
Championship tournaments are scheduled for April 16-18 at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C.
2010 MEAC Women's Tennis Preseason Predictions
As voted on by the conference's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First place votes in parenthesis)
Northern Division Points
1. Hampton (20).......................................... 249
2. Howard (1).............................................. 182
3. Delaware State........................................172
4. Morgan State..........................................153
5. Maryland Eastern Shore........................117
6. Coppin State........................................... 114
Southern Division Points
1. South Carolina State (18)........................ 234
2. Florida A&M (2)....................................... 182
3. Bethune-Cookman................................... 162
4. North Carolina A&T.................................136
5. Norfolk State........................................... ...126
2010 MEAC Men's Tennis Preseason Predictions
As voted on by the conference's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First place votes in parenthesis)
Northern Division Points
1. Hampton (19).......................................... 237
2. Howard (1).............................................. 169
3. Morgan State.......................................... 167
4. Delaware State........................................ 145
5. Maryland Eastern Shore.........................112
6. Coppin State........................................... .110
Southern Division Points
1. South Carolina State (17)......................... 222
2. Florida A&M (2)....................................... 171
3. Bethune-Cookman................................... ..155
4. Norfolk State.............................................. 136
