NORFOLK, Va. – Conference pollsters have tabbed Norfolk State men's tennis to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division and predicted a third-place finish in the division for women's tennis as the conference office released preseason rankings on Monday.
The men's team narrowly edged Howard for second place with 44 points to the Bison's 43. Morgan State, last season's divisional champion and MEAC Tournament finalist, ran away from the competition in the poll – placing first with 71 points and 17 of an available 18 first-place votes. HU collected the final first-place vote, and Coppin State rounded out the division with 22 points.
On the women's side, the Spartans were picked to finish behind Morgan State and Howard. MSU, who finished second in the division last season behind the now-departed Hampton and eventually defeated the Lady Pirates in the finals of the MEAC Tournament, topped the poll with 139 points and 20 first-place votes, and HU garnered 115 points and the final four first-place votes.
Completing the Northern Division were Delaware State (65), Coppin State (60) and Maryland Eastern Shore (25).
In the Southern Division, South Carolina State was picked to repeat as men's champions with 78 points and 10 first-place votes. The Bulldogs went undefeated in MEAC play last season and won the conference tournament.
Placing behind S.C. State was Florida A&M with 63 points and four first-place votes. Bethune-Cookman earned three first-place votes and 50 total points. North Carolina Central collected the final first-place vote and finished ahead of North Carolina A&T.
FAMU was picked to top the Southern Division in women's tennis with 10 first-place votes and 122 points. B-CU finished a point shy of the Lady Rattlers and received nine first-place votes. Coming in third was S.C. State with 107 points and the final five first-place votes.
Rounding out the poll was N.C. A&T (69), N.C. Central (49) and Savannah State (36).
Men's tennis returns all six contributors from last season's squad and begins the spring portion of its schedule on Feb. 2 against Princeton in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The women's tennis team returns to action on March 6 against Bethune-Cookman in Orlando, Florida.
