A look at what's happening in Cleveland State Athletics…
Men's Basketball
-Cleveland State (16-7, 16-4) will enter the 2021 #HLMBB Tournament as the No. 1 seed after capturing a share of the Horizon League Regular Season Championship last weekend. This marks the first time since the 2010-11 season that the Vikings finished at the top of the league standings.
-With the 67-55 victory at Purdue Fort Wayne in the regular season finale, the Vikings finished with a program-record 16 league wins.
-As the top seed in the tournament, the Vikings will get a first round bye with their first contest coming during the quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 2.
Women's Basketball
-Cleveland State (9-8, 8-8) will enter the 2021 #HLWBB Tournament as the No. 6 seed, and will host No. 11 UIC in a First Round contest on Thursday, February 25.
-Last time out, the Vikings closed out the regular season with a weekend split at Youngstown State, earning a 76-73 come-from-behind win on Friday before dropping a hard-fought 64-61 decision in the weekend finale.
-In Friday's victory over the Penguins, the Vikings were paced by Barbara Zieniewska and Taylah Levy, who combined for 33 points, including five three-pointers over the final 4:03.
Wrestling
-After wrapping up their regular season with a 23-12 dual win over Ohio on February 14, the Vikings travel to Rider University in Lawrence Township, New Jersey this weekend for the 2021 MAC Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday.
-DeAndre Nassar and Marcus Robinson lead the Vikings with five wins each. Robinson, along with redshirt freshman Anthony Rice, owns a perfect 2-0 mark in MAC bouts.
-Joseph Caprella logged Cleveland State's quickest fall of the season in the first period of the 141 pound bout at Ohio, pinning his opponent in only 2:49.
Volleyball
-The Vikings (4-4, 4-4) will continue their 2021 slate on the road this week, traveling to first-year #HLVB member Purdue Fort Wayne on Monday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 23.
-Cleveland State earned a series split against Oakland last time out, with its win coming as a three-set sweep in the first match of the series.
-After combining for 25 kills on a .367 hitting percentage against Oakland, Hannah Greene was named the #HLVB Player of the Week.
Men's Soccer
-The Vikings will hit the road for a match against Wright State on Monday, February 22 at 3 p.m.
-Cleveland State comes into the contest having won each of its last two games.
-Over the Green and White's last two matches, the Vikings have held each opponent scoreless.
-Junior Jannis Schmidt was named the Nike #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring two goals against Detroit Mercy last Wednesday.
Women's Soccer
-The Vikings will play their second consecutive road game on Thursday, February 25 against Purdue Fort Wayne riding a two-game winning streak.
-During the streak, Cleveland State has posted back-to-back overtime victories thanks to golden goals from Elena Gutlove and Ali Martin.
-Maddie Young was named #HLWSOC Offensive Player of the Week after factoring in on all three tallies in a 3-2 win over Oakland on February 17 with a goal of her own to go with a pair of assists.
Indoor Track & Field
-Following a five-match indoor slate, the Vikings will compete in the 2021 #HLTF Indoor Championships this weeend with events beginning on Friday, February 26 and running through Monday, March 1.
-Last time out, the Vikings participated in the Hillsdale Tune-Up, posting five top-five finishes.
-Entering the #HLTF Championships, the Vikings have notched five marks that rank in the top-five in the CSU Record Book throughout the season.
Softball
-Cleveland State heads back to South Carolina this week for a four-game non-conference series against Presbyterian College.
-The Green and White evened their record at 4-4 after taking three of four games in doubleheaders against Charleston Southern and College of Charleston. Hanna Griffin, the reigning #HLSB Pitcher of the Week, posted back-to-back complete games, totaling 15 innings, including an eight-inning shutout, and allowing only two earned runs with four strikeouts.
-Griffin, Taylor Betz and Jenna Watts make up a formidable Vikings pitching staff that has compiled a 1.69 team ERA.
Lacrosse
-Cleveland State will officially kick off the 2021 campaign this weekend, traveling to Mercer on Sunday, February 28.
-Sunday's game will mark the first of what is scheduled to be an eight-game slate for the Vikings during the 2021 season, while it will also be the first of six road games for Cleveland State this year.
-Earlier this month, Cleveland State Athletics announced that lacrosse will be joining the ASUN Conference beginning with the 2022 campaign.
Men's Tennis
-Cleveland State (2-3) will continue its current four-match roadswing this week, traveling to Toledo on Friday, February 26.
-Last time out, the Vikings remained perfect during the month of February with a 5-2 victory at Buffalo.
-Luke Phillips picked up his fourth straight singles win at the No. 2 spot, while Matthew Terry earned the 78th victory of his career at the top of the singles lineup.
Women's Tennis
-The Vikings (0-4) will return home for the first time during the month of February this weekend, hosting Buffalo on Friday, February 26.
-Cleveland State closed out a three-match roadswing at West Virginia last weekend, with the No. 2 doubles team of Kateryna Avram & Blanche Lenoan picking up the lone victory on the day.
-After the first four weeks of the 2021 campaign, Blanche Lenoan owns a team-best 3-1 singles record, while Miruna Vasilescu and Bethany Yauch have a team-best 2-1 doubles mark.
This Week's Events
Monday, February 22
Men's Soccer at Wright State – 3:00 p.m.
Volleyball at Purdue Fort Wayne – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 23
Volleyball at Purdue Fort Wayne – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 25
Women's Soccer at Purdue Fort Wayne – 2:30 p.m.
Women's Basketball hosts UIC – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 26
Track & Field at #HLTF Indoor Championship – All Day
Wrestling at MAC Championship – All Day
Softball at Presbyterian – 12:00 p.m./2:00 p.m.
Men's Tennis at Toledo – 1:00 p.m.
Women's Tennis hosts Buffalo – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 27
Track & Field at #HLTF Indoor Championship – All Day
Wrestling at MAC Championship – All Day
Softball at Presbyterian – 11:00 a.m./1:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 28
Track & Field at #HLTF Indoor Championship – All Day
Men's Soccer hosts Northern Kentucky – 1:00 p.m.
Lacrosse at Mercer - TBA
Viking of the Week
Men's Basketball
With a 67-55 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne in the regular season finale on Saturday, the Cleveland State men's basketball team clinched a share of the Horizon League Regular Season title. The Vikings finished regular season play with a program-record 16-4 #HLMBB mark, and will enter the upcoming Horizon League Tournament as the No. 1 seed. This marks the first time since the 2010-11 campaign that Cleveland State has earned a share of the Regular Season title, while it is just the fifth time in program history that the Vikings have finished the regular season No. 1.
Other Top Performers
Hanna Griffin, Softball
Hannah Greene, Volleyball
Aminata Ly, Women's Basketball
Tylar Mixon, Indoor Track & Field
Luke Phillips, Men's Tennis
Jannis Schmidt, Men's Soccer
Maddie Young, Women's Soccer