NORFOLK, Va., – The South Carolina State men's and women's tennis teams were picked to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) southern division crowns, while Morgan State men's and Howard women's tennis teams were predicted to win the northern division crowns, as announced by the conference office.
All preseason honors were voted on by the conference's head tennis coaches and sports information directors.
On the men's side, South Carolina State defeated Norfolk State, 4-2, to win the 2014 MEAC Tennis Championship. The title was the seventh straight and 12th overall for the Bulldogs. They finished the 2014 regular season with a 4-0 conference mark and a 12-8 overall record.
The Norfolk State Spartans men's team, who posted a 3-1 MEAC record, were picked to finish second. Bethune-Cookman was chosen to finish third, followed by Florida A&M at fourth, North Carolina Central at fifth and North Carolina A&T State at sixth.
Morgan State was selected to win the northern division after posting an undefeated conference record (4-0) and a 5-12 overall mark last year. Howard was predicted to finish in second, followed by Hampton in third. Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore were selected to finish fourth and fifth, respectively.
The reigning MEAC Women's Champion, the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, were selected to repeat as the 2015 southern division champions. The Lady Bulldogs were 5-1 in MEAC play and 13-7 overall a year ago.
Bethune-Cookman was chosen to finish second in the southern division. Last year, the Lady Wildcats recorded a 6-0 mark in MEAC play and finished 20-10 overall. Florida A&M, North Carolina Central, Norfolk State, North Carolina A&T and Savannah State rounded out the southern division preseason predictions.
The Howard Lady Bison, who were 2-16 overall and 1-3 in MEAC play last season, were selected to win the northern division. Morgan State won the northern division title last season after recording a 4-0 MEAC mark and 4-12 overall record and was picked to finish second. Delaware State, Hampton, Coppin State and Maryland Eastern Shore rounded out the northern division.
The 2015 MEAC Men's and Women's Tennis Championships begins April 16-18 at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center in Cayce, S.C.
For more information on MEAC Men's and Women's Tennis Championship and other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com
2015 Men's and Women's Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the conference Head Tennis Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First place votes in parenthesis)
Women's Predicted Order
North Division Points1. Howard (14) 143
2. Morgan State (10)130
3. Delaware State (1)105
4. Hampton (1) 70
5. Coppin State 65
6. Maryland Eastern Shore 33
South Division Points1. South Carolina State (22) 1772. Bethune-Cookman (4) 155
3. Florida A&M 122
4. North Carolina Central 95
5. Norfolk State 94
6. North Carolina A&T 50
7. Savannah State 35
Men's Predicted Order
North Division Points1. Morgan State (12) 198
2. Howard (7) 150
3. Hampton (3) 148
4. Coppin State 136
5. Maryland Eastern Shore 108
South Division Points
1. South Carolina State (19) 1292. Norfolk State (3) 95
3. Bethune-Cookman 90
4. Florida A&M 69
5. North Carolina Central 45
6. North Carolina A&T 34
