HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men's tennis team will host the Spartans of Norfolk State for its first match of the spring 2009-2010 season on Friday at noon. 

Hampton last faced Norfolk State on April 18, 2008 in the MEAC tennis championships at the Millsbrook Tennis Center, falling 4-3

Norfolk State won the first two doubles matches, with MEAC Player of the Year Miroslav Vlcek and Petr Krakora beating Sung-Kwon Baek and Nicholas Hudson 8-6, followed by Marcelo Reda and Sueng Min Cho losing to Bogdan Yordanov and Vassil Zahariev 8-0. 

Gabriel Groh and Gellert Varga won the third doubles match for the Pirates, 8-4 over Keenan Ruff and Roman del Castillo. 

The Spartans won three of the six singles matches, with Vlcek beating Groh 6-4, 6-1 in the number one slot. Del Castillo also collected a straight-set win, 6-2, 6-1 over Quentin Logan, while Yordanov defeated Varga in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

 Baek defeated Krakora 6-3, 6-4, while Cho and Hudson also gave the Pirates straight-set wins. But the Spartans clinched the match and advanced to Saturday morning's semifinal match thanks to their doubles wins. 

The Spartans were picked to finish fourth in the MEAC's Southern Division the preseason poll of head coach and sports information directors. The Spartans are currently are 0-2, falling to Old Dominion 0-7 and East Carolina 1-5. 

The Pirates' next match will be Feb. 21, when they head to Statesboro, Ga. to face the Eagles of Georgia Southern. For more information on Hampton University women's tennis, please call Derrick Coles, Assistant Sports Information Director, at (757) 727-5906, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.