HAMPTON, Va. -- The Hampton University men's tennis team (10-5, 5-0 MEAC) won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division by beating Howard on Saturday and Morgan State on Sunday.

The Pirates defeated the Bison of Howard University 5-2 at Banneker Courts in Washington, D.C.

Pirates No. 1 Nelio Mattos (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil)beat Omar Haloui in a tough match 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, while junior No. 2 Gellert Varga (Becej, Serbia)won a close match against the Bison's Devard Wharton 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Hampton's Marcelo Reda (Tremembe, Brazil)came up short to George Diggs 6-3, 6-2, and Howard earned another victory when Eric Chavous defeated Kenneth Green 6-0, 6-1.

Freshman phenom Alvin Fludd (Washington, DC)beat the Bison's Tonique Merrell in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Pirates' No. 6 Edson Alves (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil)beat Brandon Burns 6-3, 6-0.

In doubles play, Mattos/Varga defeated Wharton/Haloui 8-2, while Reda/Fludd beat Chavous/Merrell 8-4. Hampton ended the day with Alves/Green getting a victory over Diggs/Burns 8-3.

On Sunday, the Pirates defeated the Morgan State Bears 6-1 in Baltimore, Md.

Mattos destroyed Kevin Charles 6-1, 6-4 to finish MEAC play undefeated. No. 2 Varga followed up with a win against the Bears' Dimtiry Chekhlatyy 6-2, 6-4. Varga has won his last nine games.

Morgan State received its only victory when Eric Ward defeated Green in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

Fludd defeated Aaron Benjamin 6-2, 6-1. Fludd has won eight out of his last 10 games.

Alves came back to beat Dwayne Thomas 6-7, 6-2, 6-1, and Isaiah Stewart also came back to win a tough match against James Lee 5-7, 6-4, 10-5. Stewart is currently on a four-match winning streak.

In doubles play, Mattos/Varga defeated Charles/Ward 8-3. Reda/Fludd came up short against the Bears' Benjamin/Chekhlatyy. The Pirates ended the day on a good note when Alves/Greene beating Thomas/Lee 8-3.

The Pirates will now prepare for the MEAC Championships, which will be held in Raleigh, N.C. on April 16-18.For more information on Hampton University tennis, please call Derrick Coles, Assistant Sports Information Director, at (757) 727-5906, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.