NORFOLK, Va., April 26, 2018—Both the men's and women's defending champions fell in the quarterfinal round on Thursday to kick off the first day of the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tennis Championships at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
 
However, all of the top seeds advanced.
 
Morgan State, the top seed from the Northern Division in men's tennis, survived an upset bid from Southern Division No. 4 seed North Carolina Central. The Eagles, boasting MEAC Player of the Year Theofanis Kontopoulos, took the doubles point to grab an early 1-0 lead.
 
But the Bears responded, taking four of the five singles matches that were played to completion. Shrey Gupta's 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over Sebastian Bromley gave Morgan State the 4-2 win and a pass into Friday's semifinals.
 
Southern Division top seed South Carolina State made quick work of Howard, the No. 4 seed from the Northern Division, winning 4-0. Just three singles matches and two doubles matches were played to completion.
 
In the nightcap, Hampton – the Northern Division's No. 3 seed – took a 4-3 thriller over Southern Division No. 2 seed Florida A&M. After the Pirates took the doubles point, the two teams split the singles points – before fellow First Team All-MEAC selections Matthew Foster-Estwick and Noureldin Adam locked in a tight three-set dual.
 
Foster-Estwick won that match to help Hampton advance.
 
Norfolk State – the Northern Division's No. 2 seed – defeated Southern Division No. 3 seed Bethune-Cookman 4-1 – despite dropping the doubles point. The Spartans won all four singles matches played to completion, with Vini Da Silva defeating Victor Bravo 6-1, 7-5 for the clincher.
 
Morgan State will face Hampton in Friday's semifinal, while South Carolina State will take on Norfolk State.
 
Men's semifinal action starts at 12 p.m.
 
The men's championship final will be played on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 
On the women's side, Southern Division top seed Florida A&M opened the day with a 4-1 win over Norfolk State, the No. 4 seed out of the Northern Division, to be the first to advance to Friday's semifinals.
 
Hampton, the Northern Division top seed, soon followed with a 4-0 win over Southern Division No. 4 seed North Carolina A&T State.
 
In the second pair of matches, defending MEAC champion South Carolina State fell in the quarterfinal round, as Morgan State, the No. 2 seed from the Northern Division, took care of the Southern Division No. 3 seed 4-1.
 
Bethune-Cookman, the Southern Division's No. 2 seed, wrapped up women's quarterfinal play with a 4-3 win over Howard. Phatsimo Ruele won the clincher in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, over Sajela Harlow.
 
Women's semifinal action begins on Friday at 9 a.m., when Hampton takes on Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M squares off against Morgan State.
 
The women's championship final is set for Saturday at 9 a.m.
 
The championship is free and open to the public.