March 8, 2010
Results
SUMTER, S.C. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Tennis squad opened their season at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Round-Up, an unofficial gathering of the northern and southern division teams in the conference. The women's squad played six matches against North Carolina A&T, Savannah State, Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Winston-Salem State and South Carolina State. Unfortunately, the result was the same in each, as UMES starts the season at 0-6.
The most competitive match of the event was the match with newly appointed MEAC member Savannah State, where UMES fell 4-3. The Tigers had been struggling themselves and snapped an eight-match losing streak with the win, their first of the year.
The Lady Hawks started off strong, getting a win at no.1 and 2 singles. Solana McMillan topped Lauren Daniels 6-1, 6-1 at the top spot and two-sport sensation Paula Vilas defeated Shannon Howard 3-6, 6-1, 10-3 at the second spot. Latoya Jones-Stewart fell at no. 3 singles in a tough contest to Shawannda McCalin 6-3, 6-2 but LaToya Coltrane grabbed the win at no. 4 singles over Davita Washington 2-6, 6-2, 10-4.
Up 3-1 UMES seemed in control but the Tigers tied the match at three all with wins at no. 5 and 6 singles. Newcomer Alisia Belt fell to Courtney Johnson 6-0, 6-1 and Anna Katenta fell to Ruth Pamela Tilus 6-1, 6-1.
In doubles action McMillan and Vilas saw Daniels and Howard get some revenge, falling 8-6. McClain and Washington topped Coltrane and Jones-Stewart 8-2 while Katenta and Belt fell 8-0 to Johnson and Denisa Vanca. Winning the doubles point SSU got the 4-3 win.
The Savannah State match was the second of the day for UMES. They fell to North Carolina A&T earlier, 7-0 and then closed the day with a nightcap, a 7-0 loss to Florida A&M. In the match with the Aggies Jones-Stewart put up a fight at no. 3 singles before falling 6-2, 6-0. No other singles or doubles team managed more than one point in any other match on the day.
UMES also fell 7-0 in three more matches the remaining two days. McMillan would play well at the top spot against Bethune-Cookman's Katarina Szaboova, falling 6-2, 6-3 and Vilas managed a 6-0, 6-1 loss in that same match. No other UMES Player scored against the Wildcats.
On the final day the Hawks dropped decisions to Winston-Salem State and South Carolina State. Vilas and McMillan would score on the Rams but the Lady Hawks managed no other points in the rest of the match and would be shut out against the defending MEAC Champs South Carolina State.
The Hawks now will begin the MEAC North section of their schedule over the next few weeks.
