Feb. 8, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- University of Maryland Eastern Shore head coach Harold Fowler has announced the men's and women's tennis schedule for the 2011 season. The Hawks are set to play a full Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule, plus non-conference matchups against local teams.
"Our schedule is difficult but we have put the right people in the right places, and we have made the proper adjustments to ensure a successful season," says Fowler, "Hawks Tennis is turning the corner!"
The Hawks will begin their season with a road match against Virginia Union on Thursday, March 3rd.
UMES will then head to Sumter, South Carolina, for the MEAC roundup from March 4th to the 6th. The men's and women's teams will face current conference opponents Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Florida A&M during the weekend. The UMES men's team will also take on North Carolina Central, while the women's team will take on Savannah State; both are provisional members of the conference.
Before returning home, the Hawks will stop in North Carolina to take on Winston-Salem State on March 7th.
The Hawks will play their first official conference match on Saturday, March 12th as they take on Howard in Washington, D.C.
UMES will then return to Princess Anne for a trio of home matches. On Sunday, March 13th the Hawks will face Morgan State, followed by Coppin State on Monday, March 14th. The next home match will see UMES play a non-conference opponent, Virginia State, on Sunday, March 20th.
The next day on March 21st, the teams will head north to Dover, Del. to take on Wesley.
The following week on Sunday, March 27th, the Hawks will hit the road to take on in-state opponent Mount St. Mary's.
On Friday, April 1st, the men's team will head up Route 13 to take on Salisbury. The following day on April 2nd, the women's team will go farther on Route 13 to take on Delaware State.
The men's and women's teams will combine again for a home MEAC match against Norfolk State on Sunday, April 3rd in Princess Anne.
The Hawks women's team will play with a pair of away matches in two days. On Monday, April 4th, UMES will take on Towson, followed by a match against Salisbury on Tuesday, April 5th.
Both teams will play their final regular season MEAC match against Hampton at home on Saturday, April 9th. The men's team will have a rematch with North Carolina Central in Princess Anne on Sunday, April 10th to conclude the regular season.
The MEAC Men's and Women's Tennis Tournaments are set for April 15th thru the 17th with the top four seeds in each division competing in the single elimination format. The event will be held in Raleigh, N.C.
