MARCH 8, 2009

SUMTER, N.C. - Despite taking a few games from opponents, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's tennis team dropped every match at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) roundup, opening their 2009 campaign at 0-5.

The Lady Hawks did not fare well in singles play against Winston-Salem State University but rebounded in doubles action. Aissatou Ba (Dakar, Senegal) and Solana McMillan (Teaneck, N.J.) won the #1 doubles match 8-5, and LaToya Coltrane (Temple Hills, Md.) and Latoya Jones-Stewart (Landover, Md.) took their #3 doubles match 8-2.

UMES was then swept by Norfolk State 7-0. Day two of competition proved to be just as harrowing as the Lady Hawks were swept by both Bethune-Cookman University and North Carolina A&T 7-0. Coltrane put up the most points in both contests in the #6 singles spot, but could not grab a win.

The final day of competition saw the Lady Hawks grab a game from Florida A&M University. Coltrane finally pulled out a win for UMES, defeating Dainelle Riley in #6 singles play 6-3, 6-0.

UMES heads home to face Hampton University next in the Hawks Outdoor Tennis Complex. The match is set to begin at 1:30 p.m.