The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

FRESHMAN Michael Major Jr and the Howard University Bison had a tough week in men’s tennis.

Collectively, the Bison struggled, suffering their third straight loss against Keiser University at the Cocoa Beach Racquet Club in Cocoa, Florida, on Wednesday.

Individually, Major had some memorable moments in his singles and doubles matchups.

Playing out the number two singles position against Keiser’s Yassir Kilani on Wednesday, Major came up short in the match 2-6, 5-7.

He teamed up with his partner Justin Cadeau to take on Didrik Liljekvist and Soufiane El Meshabi but they were defeated 4-6. The team’s record dropped to 1-6 while Keiser remained undefeated after a 7-0 victory.

On Tuesday, Major had a much better performance against the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.

He knocked off Lucas Coupo-Moison, play- ing in the number two singles position, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Cadeau and Major then played against Esteban Lopez and Coupo-Moison in doubles action and won comfortably 6-0. His team finished 2-5 against the Aggies.

The freshman said it was good to play outside of DC and described his most recent matches.

“First day we played North Carolina A&T. We lost 5-2 but it was a good experience. I played no. 2 singles, I won my match 6-2, 6-4 against a really good player so that gave me a lot of confidence. My partner and I played no. 1 doubles against a really tough team and we won 6-0. Yesterday, we played Keiser University. It was tough, they were a tough team and I lost my doubles with my partner 6-4 and in singles I had a really tough match and lost 6-2, 7-5 but I fought really hard. I feel like my teammates were really pushing me which I appreciate. Strategically, I just go out with the mindset to keep pushing,” he said.

The 6-foot-2 tennis player was awarded the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) men’s Rookie of the Week honours last month. He is grateful to be progressing in the collegiate sporting ranks in only his first season with the team and is hoping to attain the Rookie of the Year honours for the conference.

“I was really excited when I got Rookie of the Week. Being able to see myself on the MEAC sports page and just getting recognised for doing good in my sport was really nice. It was a really good experience to know that I am doing the right things and things that I need to do and it is getting recognised. It is a stride to hopefully get- ting Rookie of the Year for my conference,” the freshman said.

Although Howard University owns a 1-6 win/loss record with an 0-4 record on the road, Major is still making the experience a positive one in his freshman year. “It is going good. I really like the school. I think the hardest part is probably adjusting to balancing school and what comes with tennis and being a part of a sports team. I cannot really complain. We play a lot of tough schools but I feel like we always compete no matter what and I just try my best to look at the positive side of things and just do what I could do. Even though I am a freshman I try to always voice my opinion, especially when I know something is off or when I know I need to give it and I feel like they always listen,” he said.

Next up for the Bison Nation will be Loyola University at 3pm on March 13.