Contact: Renee Adam
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CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Cleveland State men's tennis team dropped its opening match at Xavier Friday evening, with Niklas Jonsson and Nolan Marks claiming singles victories. The Vikings fell, 5-2 against the Musketeers in their first match of the 2013 spring season.
"This was a tough, competitive match for us tonight, and it was a great first match of the season," assistant coach Frank Polito said. "We had our chances in the doubles matches, but we just couldn't capitalize when we had the chances. We also had many opportunities during singles play, with Nolan and Niklas coming out and playing clean singles matches to pick up two victories for us. Ali also had a great match for us, but just came up short in the end. We competed great as a team tonight, and it really gives us a good starting point moving forward throughout the spring season."
Xavier was able to get out to a 1-0 lead Friday evening after posting two victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Marks and Joe VanMeter fell to Patrick Bandy and Philip Diaz (8-4) at the No. 2 slot, while Jorg van der Vloet and Matt Kuelker fell to Zach Mueck and Michael Moe (8-5) at No. 3 doubles. Jonsson and Ali Shabib had a tough battle going against the Xavier duo of Mesa Mei and Jimmy Roebker - who are ranked 55th nationally - until the match was called off.
Jonsson picked up his singles victory at the No. 5 position, earning a 6-2, 7-5 win over Adam Krull. Marks earned his win at the No. 6 slot, posting a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Patrick Bandy.
Shabib was able to pick up a win in his first set at No. 4 singles against Brandon MacDonald, but came up short in the second set and the tiebreaker, falling 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (4).
At No. 1 singles, van der Vloet came up short against Jimmy Roebker (6-3, 6-3), while Kuelker fell at No. 2 singles (6-0, 6-0) and VanMeter fell to Zach Mueck (6-3, 6-3) at the No. 3 slot.
The Vikings will continue their opening weekend trip on Sunday (Jan. 20), traveling to Penn State for a 5:00 p.m. contest.
Cleveland State 5, Xavier 2
Doubles:
1. Mei/Roebker (XU) vs. Shabib/Jonsson (CSU), 7-5, unfinished
2. Bandy/Diaz (XU) def. Marks/VanMeter (CSU), 8-4
3. Mueck/Moe (XU) def. van der Vloet/Kuelker (CSU), 8-5
Singles:
1. Roebker (XU) def. van der Vloet (CSU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Mei (XU) def. Kuelker (CSU), 6-0, 6-0
3. Mueck (XU) def. VanMeter (CSU), 6-3, 6-3
4. MacDonald (XU) def. Shabib (CSU), 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (4)
5. Jonsson (CSU) def. Krull (XU), 6-2, 7-5
6. Marks (CSU) def. Bandy (XU), 6-4, 6-4
