BALTIMORE, Md. (April 25, 2024) — Thursday's matchup between Morgan State and Howard again was coming down to the wire, but it was the Bison who prevailed, 4-2, in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship in Cary, North Carolina.
Morgan's 2024 campaign comes to a close with the defeat. The Bears finished 7-13 overall and went 1-4 in MEAC play.
On Thursday, the formidable Morgan doubles duo of Niles Rachal and Rhajzon Rankins faced a formidable challenge in Howard's Marcel Dawson and Kendrick Lash. The match was a close contest, but ultimately, Dawson and Lash emerged victorious, claiming a 6-3 victory at the No. 2 position. Meanwhile, the No. 3 doubles match also saw a decisive win for the Bison. Hassimiyou Dieng and Gabe Dieng defeated Morgan's Bertin Karenzi and Kondwani Patterson with a commanding 6-1 victory. Howard secured the doubles point.
In singles play, the Bears exhibited a mixed record, securing victories in two out of five matches. Two of these matches went into intense three-set battles, showcasing the competitive nature of the encounters. Despite the Bears' efforts, they ultimately fell short in three of the matches.
Mikeal Carpenter, a standout on the tennis court, recently earned a coveted spot on the All-MEAC First Team. His exceptional performance was evident in his match against Marcel Dawson at No. 1, where he showcased his dominance with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory.
Niles Rachal, another talented player on the team, engaged in an intense battle against Michael Major at No. 2. After a hard-fought first set that Rachal narrowly claimed 7-5, Major rallied back in the second set, taking it 3-6. However, Rachal's determination shone through in the deciding set, as he fought tooth and nail to secure a 6-4 victory.
The Bison would go on to post a win at No. 3 when Justin Cadeau held off Rhajzon Rankins 6-3, 7-6. On court 4, Bertin Karenzi extended his match, before ultimately falling to Kendrick Lash, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.
On court 5, Hassimiyou Dieng emerged victorious against Makkijha Brown, claiming a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 triumph.
After a dominant victory over Morgan, the Howard has earned a spot in the semifinals of the MEAC tournament. Their next challenge will be formidable as they face the top-seeded South Carolina State Bulldogs on Friday at noon.
For more information, visit the MEAC Tennis Championship Central page.
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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.
