CARY, N.C. (March 22, 2024) — The Morgan State men's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision to South Carolina State at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Roundup held at the Cary Tennis Courts in Cary, North Carolina.
Following the loss, Morgan falls to 5-7 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. South Carolina State improves to 7-5 overall (1-0).
The Bears dropped the doubles point and fell behind 1-0 after a couple of hard-fought matches favored the Bulldogs. In singles action, Morgan battled to third sets in two of the six matches to remain competitive in the match.
The match between the doubles teams of Mikeal Carpenter and Niles Rachel and Aissa Benchakroun and Benjamin Niv was an intense one. However, in the end, it was Carpenter and Rachal who emerged victorious with a score of 6-4 on court 1. The Bulldogs were not disheartened as they went on to secure the doubles point with two other impressive victories. Novak Novakovich and Mikalai Bankou won against Makkijha Brown and Bertin Karenzi with a score of 6-2, while Gabriel Johnson and Ivan Pauliuchenka claimed a 6-3 victory against Rhajzon Rankins and Antonio Santos.
Makkijha Brown was edged out, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in a grueling three-set match against the Bulldogs' Aissa Benchakrounon court 3. On court 2, Niles Rachal also put up a strong fight against Mikalai Bankou, pushing the match to a third set. However, Bankou proved to be a formidable opponent and ultimately secured the win, 4,6, 6-1, 6-4.
Morgan returns to action at the Cary Tennis Center on Saturday at 3.p.m against North Carolina Central, before facing Norfolk State on Sunday morning.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
