NORFOLK, VA-The South Carolina State University's men's and women's tennis teams were predicted to win the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) southern divisional crowns. Hampton University's men's and Howard University's women's 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.
Defending MEAC champion South Carolina State Bulldogs winners of the last six-of-seven league titles concluded the 2010 season with a 2-1 MEAC mark and 14-10 record overall en route to their second consecutive MEAC crown.
The Bulldogs will return four veteran players, such as All-MEAC performers and senior's Gabriel Mean (Spain),
David Grund (Czech Republic),
Radek Langer (Czech Republic) and the 2010 The Tournaments Most Outstanding Player Dmytro Kovalevch (UKrain). SC State will be seeking its ninth MEAC men's title.
Florida A&M was predicted to finish in second. The Rattlers posted a perfect 3-0 MEAC record and won the southern divisional title a year ago. Bethune-Cook man was chosen to finish third in the men's southern division followed by Norfolk State in the fourth and final slot. The Hampton Pirates were picked to finish first in the northern division for the third straight year. The Pirates posted an undefeated conference record (5-0) and were 11-6 overall last year.
The reigning MEAC women's champion, South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs earned the nod to repeat in t he south. The Lady Bulldogs were 4-0 in MEAC play and 16-5 overall last season. Returning a host of veteran players South Carolina State will look to defend their seventh title.
Florida A&M was chosen to finish second in the southern division. Last year, the Lady Rattlers recorded a 3-1 mark in MEAC play and finished 9-8 overall. Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State, and North Carolina A&T round, following rounds out the southern division preseason predictions.
Howard, winners of last year's northern divisional crown, tops the first place predictions for the north. The Lady Bison posted a 5-0 mark in MEAC play and a 15-4 record overall a year ago. Howard returns the 2010 MEAC Player of the Year Michelle Brown as well as the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year Brittney Morgan.
The Hampton Lady Pirates (4-1 MEAC, 8-9 overall) were predicted 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 predictions.
Conference play begins March 2 when Bethune-Cookman takes on South Carolina State in men's and women's competition.
The 2011 MEAC Tennis Championship tournament begins April 15-17 at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C.
2011 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. Howard (17) - 223
2. Hampton (2) - 187
3. Delaware State - 153
4. Morgan State - 148
5. Maryland Eastern Shore (1) - 118
6. Coppin State - 111
Southern Division (Points)
1. South Carolina State (18) - 242
2. Florida A&M (2) - 189
3. Bethune-Cookman - 170
4. Norfolk State - 143
5. North Carolina A&T - 138
2011 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 (20) - 249
2. Howard (1) - 187
3. Morgan State - 163
4. Maryland Eastern Shore - 131
5. Coppin State - 106
Southern Division (Points)
1. South Carolina State (16) - 228
2. Florida A&M (4) - 188
3. Bethune-Cookman - 152
4. Norfolk State - 147
