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GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Cleveland State men's tennis team was able to post just two points against Green Bay - the defending Horizon League Champion - Sunday afternoon, as the Vikings fell to the Phoenix, 5-2. Sunday marked CSU's first loss in league play, while the Vikings are now 6-11 overall and 2-1 in the Horizon League.
"We played some great, solid doubles today, finally putting it all together to get the doubles sweep - but we were only able to muster one more point the rest of the way despite some very competitive singles matches," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Joe and Jorg both had chances on their courts to close out the matches, but Green Bay was able to come back in both and get the best of us. For a few minutes it looked like we were going to win today after the momentum shifted our way, but Green Bay was able to take control and finish the contest."
For the fourth time this season the Vikings were able to sweep the doubles matches, picking up three victories against the Phoenix. The No. 1 duo of Ali Shabib and Niklas Jonsson became the sixth Viking tandem in program history to reach 20 wins in a single season - picking up an 8-6 victory against Green Bay. Shabib and Jonsson now stand at 20-5 this season and 3-0 in league play.
Also improving to 3-0 in Horizon League action was the No. 2 doubles team of Nolan Marks and Matt Kuelker, who posted an 8-6 victory at Green Bay. Marks and Kuelker are now 4-1 this spring, and have won three straight matches. The No. 3 team of Jorg van der Vloet and Joe VanMeter picked up CSU's final doubles victory of the day, earning an 8-5 win - their third victory out of their last five matches.
Cleveland State's lone singles victory came from Shabib at the No. 3 spot, as he posted a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win. Shabib is now 3-0 in league play, and is one of three Vikings to have at least 12 singles wins this year.
Jorg van der Vloet (No. 1) and Joe VanMeter (No. 6) each pushed their matches to three sets at Green Bay, while Nolan Marksgave his opponent all he could handle at the No. 4 spot.
"We did have our chances to win today, and it was close enough to know that we would be able to do it if we got another chance. We have a lot of work ahead of us before the league championship, but hopefully we will get another chance to play Green Bay in a rematch when that time comes," Etzkin said.
Cleveland State will return home next weekend, hosting UIC and Valparaiso in a pair of Horizon League contests. The Vikings will open the weekend against UIC on Saturday (April 13) and will then face Valparaiso on Sunday (April 14). Both matches are slated for a 3:00 p.m. start.
Green Bay 5, Cleveland State 2
Doubles:
No. 1 - Ali Shabib/Niklas Jonsson (CSU) def. Erik Finkenbrink/Craig Cox (GB) 8-6
No. 2 - Matt Kuelker/Nolan Marks (CSU) def. Michael Tebon/Howard Scott (GB) 8-6
No. 3 - Jorg van der Vloet/Joe VanMeter (CSU) def. Michael Tenzer/Joey Leto (GB) 8-5
Singles:
No. 1 - Michael Tenzer (GB) def. Jorg van der Vloet (CSU) 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
No. 2 - Erik Finkenbrink (GB) def. Matt Kuelker (CSU) 6-0, 6-4
No. 3 - Ali Shabib (CSU) def. Craig Cox (GB) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
No. 4 - Leopold Gomez Islinger (GB) def. Nolan Marks (CSU) 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 - Howard Scott (GB) def. Matt Ford (CSU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 6 - Rowan Isaaks (GB) def. Joe VanMeter (CSU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
