Contact: Renee Adam
Follow the Vikings on TWITTER
CSU Athletics on YouTube
Become a Fan on Facebook
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - After posting their third straight doubles victory Sunday, the duo of Ali Shabib and Niklas Jonsson were named the Doubles Champions at the Western Michigan Vredevelt Invitational, leading the Cleveland State men's tennis team during its first fall tournament. Shabib and Joe VanMeter also earned a spot on the all-tournament team, Shabib with a five-for-seven effort on the weekend and VanMeter with a perfect 4-0 record in singles play.
Shabib and Jonsson earned their third doubles victory of the weekend over Illinois State Sunday, claiming an 8-4 victory. The Viking duo was the only doubles team to win three matches at the WMU Invite, with all three coming at the No. 1 doubles spot.
"Our No. 1 doubles team of Ali and Niklas played very well this week, and I am very proud of how they started off the season," student assistant coach Yannick Goossens said. "We also fought hard at the other doubles spots today and were able to finish off the first tournament on a positive note."
The Vikings picked up three singles wins Sunday, including a victory from Jorg van der Vloet at the No. 1 spot. Vloet, who notched his first singles win of the season, earned a 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory over Erik Brunskog from Illinois State. VanMeter and Matt Fordclaimed the other two victories for CSU, both ending the weekend with a 4-0 record in singles play. VanMeter posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Michael Sellitto of Illinois State, while Ford picked up a 7-5, 6-0 win over Western Michigan's Marc Shideler.
"We had another strong day of singles play, led by Matt and Joe who were rocks again today. They have had solid matches all weekend and really got their seasons off to a strong start. I'm also proud of how Jorg finished play this weekend, after having some tough matches to start the invite he was able to battle for a victory today and finish the invite playing some strong tennis," Goossens said.
The Vikings will continue their fall schedule next weekend at the Purdue Invitational. The Purdue Invite is a three-day tournament with action running from Friday (Sept. 21) through Sunday (Sept. 23).
Singles Champion: Jim Roebker, Xavier
Doubles Champions: Shabib/Jonsson, Cleveland State
All-Tournament Team
Jim Roebker, Xavier (MVP)
Mesa Mei, Xavier
Ross VanderPloeg, Western Michigan
Nicolas Montoya, Notre Dame
Joe VanMeter, Cleveland State
Ken Sabacinski, Notre Dame
Brandon MacDonald, Xavier
Ali Shabib, Cleveland State
CSU Singles Results
van der Vloet (CSU) def. Brunskog (ISU), 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
Finkenbrink (GB) def. Kuelker (CSU), 6-4, 6-3
VanMeter (CSU) def. Sellitto (ISU), 6-4, 6-4
Leto (GB) def. Shabib (CSU), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Tebon (GB) def. Jonsson (CSU), 6-0, 6-3
Ford (CSU) def. Shideler (WMU), 7-5, 6-0
Carman (XU) def. Marks (CSU), 6-3 ,6-2
CSU Doubles Results
Shabib/Jonsson (CSU) def. Brunskog/Sellitto (ISU), 8-4
Wilson/Appeerenvanda (ISU) def. VanMeter/Ford (CSU), 8-6
Abunku/Moe (XU) def. Kuelker/Marks (CSU), 9-7
