March 30, 2009

Box Score

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) missed a weekend of competition due to rain but it did not deter the Hawks as they came ready for their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest, downing Coppin State University (CSU) at home and extending their win streaks.

Down three games to none in singles play, the Hawks (2-6) came back on huge wins by freshmen Marquet Robinson (Cambridge, Md.) and Osvaldo Rivera (Christiansted, U.S.V.I.). Both swept their opponents straight sets (6-0, 6-0). After Richard Warren (Salem, N.J.) claimed the sixth game win on default, the match came down to doubles play, tied 3-3.

Dorian Thomas (Mitchellville, Md.) and Emmash Sudusinghe (Colombo, Sri Lanka) could not hold onto their match and fell 8-4, but junior Rashad James (Charlotte, N.C.), teamed with Rivera, overpowered their Eagle opponents, defeating them 8-1. Though the deciding third game was defaulted to UMES, the win was felt by every player, as it secured their second straight win for the first time in over a decade.

The Lady Hawks (2-7) dropped their first two games in singles play before sweeping CSU 5-2 to win the match. Bolanle Abioye (Lagos, Nigeria) and Latoya Jones-Stewart (Landover, Md.) took their opponents in straight sets, while Solana McMillan (Teaneck, N.J.) came from behind to win hers 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.

The UMES men's and women's teams have not swept opponents in back-to-back dual matches since the programs began in the early 1980's. They will look to extend their win streaks to an unprecedented three when they travel to Howard University on March 31. Competition between the MEAC opponents will begin at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C.