Box Score CARY, N.C. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team (6-7, 1-0 MEAC) got off to a spectacular start at the MEAC Tennis Roundup on Friday, defeating Howard (3-7, 0-1) 6-1 at Cary Tennis Park.
 
Howard's lone point of the afternoon came in doubles play. The Spartans swept all six singles matches against the Bison.
 
Frederick McRae and Vladisav Gorbatenko earned a 7-6 victory at No. 3 doubles, but Howard earned 6-3 and 6-2 wins on Courts 1 and 2, respectively, to win the first point of the afternoon.
 
Norfolk State bounced back gracefully in singles, winning all but one match in straight sets. Gorbatenko and McRae moved to 2-0 quickly – Gorbatenko defeated Marcel Dawson 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 1 slot, while McRae took down Hassimiyou Dieng 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 4 position.
 
Coming off a recent MEAC Rookie of the Week selection, Antoni Pankowski defeated Daniel Dunac 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 5 slot, before Deniz Okyay beat Justin Cadeau 6-2, 6-4 on Court 3.
 
Boris Lunin registered a strong win on Court 6, defeating Mitchell Yon 6-3, 6-4. Jakub Solarski ended the day with a hard-fought win at the No. 2 position, defeating Michael Major 7-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4).
 
The Spartans continue the MEAC Roundup with a matchup against Coppin State on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
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