April 21, 2005

Richmond, VA - Just like their female counterparts, the Shaw University Bears hold a narrow one-point lead, and are sitting in first place after the first day of men's tennis action from the 2005 CIAA Women's Tennis Championships in Richmond, VA. The Rams of Winston-Salem State University currently sit in fifth place after the completion of day one action.

Day one would be witness to the doubles flight action from the 2005 Championship, as Shaw University and arch-rival Johnson C. Smith, the two most talented men's tennis teams in the ultra-competitive CIAA, would not disappoint as the two teams accounted for all three championship matches.

The Bears got the best of the Golden Bulls in the first and third doubles flights as Shaw's recorded a first doubles championship and third doubles championship en route to an important 16 points.

Johnson C. Smith would earn the second doubles championship as they defeated Shaw to earn themselves a second doubles title and an important eight points.

With their two first-place finishes, the Bears earned a cumulative total of 23 points, while the Golden Bulls sit in second place with 22 total points in what is almost an exact replica of the 2004 tennis championship.

The Trojans of Virginia State University, Eagles of North Carolina Central, and Rams of Winston-Salem State are the only three other teams to crack into the double-digits in points after day one as VSU sits in third place with 16 points, and NCCU and WSSU are tied for fourth position with 13 points each.

All eight teams will return to action on Thursday as they battle in the first two rounds of the singles competition. The singles finals are slated to be held on Saturday morning, with an overall champion being crowned shortly thereafter.

Men's Tennis Brackets After Day One (Click Here)