Box Score WASHINGTON D.C. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team started the MEAC Tennis Roundup with an emphatic conference victory, taking down Howard 5-2 at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation on Friday afternoon.
 
The Spartans (8-9) couldn't pull out a win at the No. 1 doubles position but bounced back on the other two courts to swipe the opening point. Frederick McRae and Igor Kubalka won 6-4 at the No. 3 position, before Deniz Okyay and Jakub Solarski earned a 7-5 victory at the No. 2 slot to put NSU ahead 1-0.
 
Okyay defeated Marcel Dawson 7-5, 6-0 at the No. 3 singles position, keeping the momentum going. Vladisav Gorbatenko beat Kaosie Nwokedi 7-6 (6), 6-4 on Court 2, placing the Spartans just one point away from victory.
 
Kubalka clinched the match for the Spartans, taking down Hissimiyou Dieng 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 5 position. McRae closed out a marathon match on Court 4, beating Kendrick Lash 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
 
Howard notched wins at the No. 6 and No. 1 singles spots to cut the final gap to 5-2.
 
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