NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Division in the MEAC preseason poll released Tuesday afternoon by the conference office, while the women were selected fifth.
The men's team received 137 points to finish just ahead of North Carolina Central, which compiled 134 points. The women's team, meanwhile, had 163 points and easily outpaced sixth-place North Carolina A&T. Voting was done by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
There are only five teams in the Southern Division in men's tennis but seven in women's tennis. North Carolina A&T and Savannah State do not field a men's team. Only the top four teams in the Northern and Southern Divisions advance to the MEAC tournament in mid-April.
The NSU women finished in fourth place in the Southern Division last year with a 1-3 MEAC record and an overall record of 4-17. The men's team had a 0-3 MEAC record in 2011 and finished 6-14 overall. Both teams finished fourth in the Southern Division. Savannah State and North Carolina Central join the league as full-time members this season.
South Carolina State garnered 13 of the 20 first place votes and finished atop the men's poll with 219 points, while the Bulldogs also had 25 of 26 first place votes in the women's poll with a point total of 309.
The Howard men and women were each picked to finish first in the Northern Division.
The Spartans will kick off their season Jan. 21, with the men heading to Georgetown and the women playing at Old Dominion.
2012 MEAC Women's Tennis Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
(First place votes in parenthesis)
Northern Division
1. Howard (21)....................... 297 pts.
2. Hampton (3)....................... 227 pts.
3. Delaware State (2).............218 pts.
4. Morgan State..................... 177 pts.
5. Maryland E. Shore..............150 pts.
6. Coppin State.......................146 pts.
Southern Division
1. South Carolina State (25)… 309 pts.
2. Florida A&M (1)...................... 235 pts.
3. Bethune-Cookman............... 213 pts.
4. North Carolina Central........ 171 pts.
5. Norfolk State......................... 163 pts.
6. North Carolina A&T.............. 138 pts.
7. Savannah State.................... 123 pts.
2012 MEAC Men's Tennis Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
(First place votes in parenthesis)
Northern Division
1. Howard (13)....................... 217 pts.
2. Hampton (4)....................... 184 pts.
3. Morgan State (3)................ 175 pts.
4. Maryland E. Shore............. 136 pts.
5. Coppin State...................... 128 pts.
Southern Division
1. South Carolina State (13)… 219 pts.
2. Florida A&M (7)...................... 201 pts.
3. Bethune-Cookman............... 149 pts.
4. Norfolk State......................... 137 pts.
5. North Carolina Central….... 134 pts.
