CARY, N.C., April 30, 2022 – South Carolina State defeated Morgan State 4-0 in a battle of the top two seeds on Saturday morning to win the 2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Championship at Cary Tennis Park.
The Bulldogs won their second straight MEAC title and their 14th in the last 18 years. Overall, South Carolina State has won 17 men’s tennis championships.
South Carolina State (12-9) earns the MEAC’s automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships; the selection show will be Monday, May 2, at 6 p.m. live on NCAA.com.
The top-seeded Bulldogs took the doubles point after winning the No. 1 and No. 3 matches; Benjamin Niv and Aissa Benchakroun won 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, while Zhanger Almashey and Omer Gorgun took a 6-1 win at No. 3.
Once singles play started, Benchakroun made quick work of his singles match, defeating Makkijha Brown 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2. Pauluychenko followed at No. 4 singles with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Niles Rachal.
The clincher came at No. 6 singles, where Luka Stevanovic outlasted Rhajzon Rankins in a second-set tiebreaker to win 6-3, 7-5.
Gorgun went a combined 3-0 in singles and doubles player en route to earning Outstanding Performer honors. Bulldogs head coach Hardeep Judge was named Outstanding Coach.
For more information on the 2022 MEAC Tennis Championships, please visit the Championship Central page.
2022 MEAC Men’s Tennis All-Tournament Team
Doubles
1 – Benjamin Niv / Aissa Benchakroun (SCSU)
2 – Rostislav Halfinger / Ivan Pauluychenko (SCSU)
3 – Zhanger Almashev / Omer Gorgun (SCSU)
Singles
1 – Mikeal Carpenter, Morgan State
2 – Aissa Benchakroun, South Carolina State
3 – Nihit Rawal, Morgan State
4 – Ivan Pauluychenko, South Carolina State
5 – Diego Arzaluz, South Carolina State
6 – Luka Stevanovic, South Carolina State
Outstanding Performer: Omer Gorgun, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge, South Carolina State