HAMPTON, Va. -- The Hampton University women's tennis team (8-8, 4-1 MEAC) lost to Howard and beat Morgan State this past weekend to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division.

On Saturday, the Lady Pirates traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete against the Lady Bison of Howard. The Lady Pirates came up short, losing to the Lady Bison 5-2 on Banneker Courts. It was Hampton's first regular-season conference loss since falling 4-1 to Morgan State in 1997.

In singles play, Jovanna Sangria (Long Beach, Calif.)came up short to Michelle Gee 6-3, 0-6, 2-6. This loss snapped her seven-match winning streak. No. 2Na-Hyun Baek (Seoul, Korea)lost in straight sets to Brittney Morgan 6-4, 6-0. This was Baek's first career loss in conference play.

Tabita Daolio (Centro Campinas, Brazil)gave the Lady Pirates their first victory of the day by defeating Ashley Moore by default.

Barenese Myers (Beverly Hills, Calif.)lost in straight sets to Howard's Alyssa Works 6-3, 6-0, followed by another victory by the Lady Bison's Gee, who defeated Janelle Small 6-3, 6-0.

Hampton's Maria Ycaza (Guayaquil, Ecuador)earned a victory by beating Anne Akhimien 8-4.

In doubles play, Hampton's Baek/Sangria started off with a victory over Morgan/Works 8-1; however, Howard took the next two matches. Lady Bison's Moore/Brown defeated Myers/Daolio 8-1, and Howard's Gee/Akhimien beat Ycaza/Small 8-3.

On Sunday, the Lady Pirates bounced back with a stomping over the Lady Bears of Morgan State 6-1 in Baltimore, Md. at the Clifton Park Courts.

In singles play, Sangria beat Viktoriya Lukyanenko 6-2, 6-3. This was Sangria's 11^th victory of the season, while No. 2 Daolio defeated Alexis McCoy 6-4, 6-2; she is on a three-match winning streak.

Baek crushed the Lady Bears' Nekesa Thomas in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, and Ycaza defeated Pola Olczak 6-1, 6-1.

 Morgan State's Frances Ferdinand gave her team its only victory by defeating Small 6-2, 7-5, but Myers ended the regular season with a big win over Blair Fleet 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles play, Hampton's tandem of Baek/Sangria defeated McCoy/Thomas 8-2. Baek/Sangria are undefeated this season in conference play with four wins.

Morgan State came right back with a victory by Lukyanenko/Olczak over Ycaza/Small 8-6, but the Lady Pirates had the last laugh with a great win with the team of Myers/Daolio defeating Ferdinand/Fleet.

The Lady 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.