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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State men's tennis team had strong performances in both doubles and singles play Sunday afternoon, earning a 7-0 sweep against Valparaiso. The Vikings are now 8-11 overall and 4-1 in Horizon League play.
"Once again doubles proved to be one of our strengths today, and I thought we played some good tennis during all three doubles matches. We need to continue to work hard in doubles play, so that we are known as a team that it's hard to get a doubles point against," head coach Brian Etzkinsaid. "Similar to some other matches, we were able to get a couple quick points in singles play - but I thought the difference today was that we kept pushing and put away all six singles matches."
The Vikings were able to pick up the doubles point for the fifth time during league play on Sunday, earning victories at all three doubles positions. The No. 1 duo of Ali Shabib and Niklas Jonsson improved their record to 22-5 this season and remained perfect in league play with an 8-3 victory, while the No. 2 team of Nolan Marks and Matt Kuelker also own a perfect 5-0 record in league play after an 8-5 win. The No. 3 doubles team of Joe VanMeter and Jorg van der Vloet then gave CSU the sweep, with an 8-2 victory against the Crusaders.
Kuelker and Shabib quickly got on the board during singles play, Kuelker picking up a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles and Shabib with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles. Kuelker now has 16 wins on the year, while Shabib owns a perfect 5-0 record during league action. VanMeter gave the Vikings the clinching point with his win at No. 6 singles - earning a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Jonsson was able to battle through a tough singles match at the No. 4 position to come away with a 6-4, 7-5 win, while Marks earned a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (8) victory at No. 5 singles.
The No. 1 singles match was the final one of the courts Sunday, with van der Vloet earning a 7-5, 6-4 victory for the Vikings.
"Nolan found a way to win a close match at No. 5 singles, and he was really playing some good tennis towards the end of the match to pull out the win. Jorg also got a great win against a good opponent today, and he had to work hard on transitioning from playing indoors to outdoors, which can be difficult sometimes. It was good to see Niklas back in the singles lineup, he was very effective in the middle of the lineup and got us another quick point," Etzkin said.
Cleveland State will wrap up the regular season next weekend, traveling to Butler on Saturday (April 20) and Wright State on Sunday (April 21).
Cleveland State 7, Valparaiso 0
Doubles"
1. SHABIB, Ali/JONSSON, Niklas (CSU) def. Eric Honert/Lucas Waak (VALPO) 8-3
2. KUELKER, Matt/MARKS, Nolan (CSU) def. Chris Baum/Danny Oakes (VALPO) 8-5
3. VAN DER VLOET, Jorg/VANMETER, Joe (CSU) def. Michael Savaglio/Michael Baiocchi (VALPO) 8-2
Singles:
1. van der Vloet, Jorg (CSU) def. Eric Honert (VALPO) 7-5, 6-4
2. Kuelker, Matt (CSU) def. Chris Baum (VALPO) 6-2, 6-2
3. Shabib, Ali (CSU) def. Michael Savaglio (VALPO) 6-2, 6-4
4. Jonsson, Niklas (CSU) def. Michael Baiocchi (VALPO) 6-4, 7-5
5. Marks, Nolan (CSU) def. Lucas Waak (VALPO) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (8)
6. VanMeter, Joe (CSU) def. Daniel Etman (VALPO) 6-1, 6-2
