The Morgan State men’s tennis team endured a challenging morning at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Roundup, suffering a 5-2 defeat against Norfolk State. This event unfolded on Sunday at the Cary Tennis Courts in Cary, North Carolina. Regrettably, this marks the team’s third consecutive loss, bringing their current season record to 5-9, with a 0-3 standing in the MEAC.
In the doubles matches, Mikeal Carpenter and Makkijha Brown achieved a 6-4 victory against their Norfolk State counterparts on court 1. Conversely, Anthony Parris and Antonio Santos were less fortunate, succumbing to a 6-1 loss on court 3. Niles Rachal and Rhajzon Rankins put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell short, suffering a 6-4 defeat on court 2.
The singles matches presented similar challenges for the Morgan State team. Deniz Okyay from Norfolk State delivered a dominant performance, achieving a flawless 6-0, 6-0 victory against Makkijha Brown on court 3. Nonetheless, Mikeal Carpenter managed to secure a win, securing the Bears’ first point with a 6-3, 6-4 victory on court 1.
Antoni Pankowski, competing on court 5, clinched a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Jaeden Patterson. Following suit, Niles Rachal claimed the second singles match for the Bears, sweeping Vladisav Gorbatenko 7-6, 6-3 on court 2. Rachal’s consistent strong showing in the conference has extended his personal win streak to five matches, significantly boosting his overall record to an impressive 6-1 in singles action.
Frederick McRae engaged in a three-set battle against Rhajzon Rankins, ultimately securing the match with a score of 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 on court 3. The Spartans concluded the morning’s action with a straight-set victory on court 6, where Boris Lunin defeated Anthony Parris with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
Looking ahead, the Bears will be preparing for a 3-game homestand, commencing with a match against Harford Community College on Thursday, March 28th, with the first serve scheduled for 1 p.m.
For those wishing to stay abreast of Morgan State Athletics, an official website is available at www.morganstatebears.com, where news, schedules, stats, bios, and more can be accessed. The university also has a presence on social media platforms including Facebook (/MorganStateBears), Twitter (@MorganStBears), and Instagram (/MorganStateBears).
Morgan State University, established in 1867, is a distinguished research institution offering nearly 140 academic programs. It is the Preeminent Public Urban Research University in Maryland, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The university serves a diverse student body and is committed to ensuring that higher education is accessible to all. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.