North Carolina Central University

TENNIS

    DURHAM, NC -  North Carolina Central University head tennis coach D. Curtis Lawson preached to his team all season long about earning respect.  Lawson continuously told his squad, "Win or lose, when you leave the court you should have won the respect of your opponent."
    The 1995 Eagle tennis team responded with a record-breaking season, winning the CIAA Southern Division Championship and placing third at the CIAA Spring Sports Championships for the first time in more than 10 years, while finishing second overall in the CIAA for the first time since the legendary Dr. James W. Younge era back in the mid-70s.  NCCU posted a record of 10-0 in the South, 12-2 in the CIAA, and 14-5 overall, to earn a new-found respect in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
    Lawson searched long and hard through the imperfect NCCU tennis files, but could not pin-point the last time the Eagle tennis squad has posted so many accomplishments in one extraordinary season.  "I know for sure it has been at least 10 years," said Lawson, now in his fourth season as head coach, "but I believe it has been longer." 
    The tennis program at NCCU was started back in 1946, then called North Carolina College, but  the record books are not complete.  The team enjoyed national prominence under Dr. Younge from the late-40s into the mid-70s, but have not rekindled that kind of success ... until now.
    "This '95 tennis season is a milestone for this administration and the University as a whole," Lawson said.  "Our success was due to a combination of key leadership from our veteran players (Louis Perkins, Craig Harding), big play from our underclassmen (Jason Hampton, David Bowden), and an outstanding support staff led by Assistant Coach James Robbins." 
    And while he admits that all of his players worked hard enough to earn the team's Most Valuable Player award, sophomore Terry Neal (Charlotte, NC) won the honor.  "If we had one player as the 'ace in the hole' it was Terry," Lawson said.  "We could count on Terry to win against just about any team we played."
    The Eagles entered the Spring campaign with the bare-minimum six players, after losing two student-athletes from the Fall team, including last year's M.V.P., Shawn Lucas.  Now just six strong, the Eagles went up against one of the toughest schedules in the East Region, facing Northern Kentucky (sixth in the Mid-West Region), Edinboro (NCAA Division II National Champions just six years ago), Morehouse (12th in the Southeast Region), and CIAA powerhouse Norfolk State (ranked 22nd in NCAA Division II).
    "Thanks to the commitment and dedication of our sponsors, we were able to play a more diversified and competitive schedule," said Lawson.  "Our players and our entire tennis program at NCCU has matured as a result of the generous commitment by our sponsors, enabling us to play such a high-quality schedule."
    After winning the regular season CIAA Southern Division crown, the Eagles travelled to Norfolk, VA, for the CIAA Spring Sports Championships. NCCU left Norfolk with the third place trophy, their only loss coming at the hands of host Norfolk State.  Senior Malcolm Greene (Washington, DC) earned honorable mention Tournament M.V.P. honors by going undefeated during match play.
    "We could have placed as high as second," Lawson said.  "But the luck of the draw pinned us against Norfolk State (who handed the Eagles their only CIAA loss during the regular season) in the second round.  The lottery draw adds excitement to any tournament, but in this case, it did not work in our favor."
The Eagles are now patiently waiting to see if their outstanding effort is enough to propel them to the East Regional Playoffs.

1995 NCCU EAGLE TENNIS ROSTER / INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Rank - Name - Year - Hometown (Record)
1 - Craig Harding - Junior - Mitchellville, MD (9-9)
2 - Jason Hampton - Freshman - New Orleans, LA (12-6)
3 - Malcolm Greene - Senior - Washington, DC (12-3)
4 - David Bowden - Freshman - Durham, NC (2-6)
5 - Louis Perkins - Grad. - Ft. Washington, MD (14-4)
6 - Terry Neal - Sophomore - Charlotte, NC (10-4)

Head Coach:  D. Curtis Lawson
Assistant Coach:  James Robbins 

Last Revised:  April 12, 2001