BOWIE, MD — The Bowie State women's tennis team (0–7, 0–6 CIAA) hits the road to take on Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) divisional foe Virginia Union (0–2, 0–2 CIAA) on Tuesday, Mar. 24 at 1 p.m. at Battery Park in Richmond, Va.
When: Tuesday, Mar. 24 | 1:00 p.m.
Where: Battery Park (Richmond, Va.)
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Scouting Bowie State
BSU continues to build and develop as the 2026 season progresses. While the win column is still growing, the Bulldogs have shown toughness and a willingness to compete in every match against CIAA opponents.
In singles, Payton Swinton has stood out as a key contributor, picking up a win and consistently putting together competitive performances. Across the lineup, players such as Nakari Blunt, Verneice Herndon, and Asia Johnson continue to gain valuable experience, showing steady improvement and strong effort on the court.
Doubles play is still coming together, but the team is gaining chemistry with each outing. As partnerships continue to develop, there have been flashes of solid communication and point construction that point toward future success.
A major positive for Bowie State has been its competitiveness in tight matches, highlighted by a close 3-4 battle against Livingstone.
Last Timeout for the Bulldogs
Bowie State returns to action after competing in four matches at the CIAA Round-Up hosted by Bluefield State in West Virginia.
The Bulldogs opened with a loss to Johnson C. Smith, dropping doubles at No. 1 and No. 2 while falling in singles at the top five positions (No. 6 by forfeit). Bowie State then suffered a 4–0 setback to Winston-Salem State, which swept both doubles and singles play.
BSU delivered its strongest showing against Livingstone, narrowly falling 4–3. Swinton highlighted the match with a 6–0 victory at No. 4, her first win of the season, while the Bulldogs also picked up points via forfeits at No. 5 and No. 6.
The weekend concluded with a 4–0 loss to defending CIAA champion Shaw.
Scouting Virginia Union
Virginia Union enters the matchup with a competitive lineup built around depth and steady play across both singles and doubles.
In singles, the Panthers are led by Madison Hill, Briana Velinor, Maya Mercer and Bethany Himalaya, with additional contributions from Marianna Brooks, Andrea Sanjurjo and Alana Simmons. While results have varied, the group has shown the ability to compete across all flights and extend rallies.
In doubles play, Virginia Union has utilized pairings such as Maya Mercer and Alana Simmons, along with Andrea Sanjurjo and Bethany Himalaya. The Panthers emphasize aggressive net play and teamwork as they look to establish early momentum.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will return home to host Bluefield State in a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 28 at the BSU Tennis Complex, with first serve scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
