CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team has a busy week ahead, as the Vikings will play three matches over the next six days. CSU will begin the week with a neutral site contest against Xavier (Tuesday, April 7), before traveling to Green Bay (Saturday, April 11) and Marquette (Sunday, April 12). Entering the week, Cleveland State stands at 12-6 overall this spring and 2-1 in Horizon League action.
Tuesday, April 7 | vs. Xavier | 6:00 p.m.
Elysium Tennis Club | 7637 Commerce Pl. | Plain City, Ohio | 43064
Follow The Action| Fans that are unable to attend Tuesday's match against Xavier will be able to follow the action online, with live results available on the men's tennis schedule page at CSUVikings.com
Saturday, April 11 | @ Green Bay | 5:00 p.m. EST
Western Racquet & Fitness Club | 2500 S. Ashland Ave. | Green Bay, Wis. | 54304
Sunday, April 12 | @ Marquette | 3:00 p.m. EST
Helfaer Tennis Stadium | 525 N. 16th Street | Milwaukee, Wis. | 53233
Follow The Action| Fans that are unable to attend Sunday's match at Marquette will be able to follow the action online, with live results available on the men's tennis schedule page at CSUVikings.com
2014-15 MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS | 2014-15 SEASON STATISTICS
Bellutti Notches 20th Win Of The Season
With his 6-1, 6-1 victory at Youngstown State last Saturday, Manuel Bellutti became the first Viking to notch 20 singles wins this season. Bellutti owns a team-best 20-6 singles record this season, including a 13-3 mark this spring. He has won seven straight singles matches entering the week, and 10 of his last 11. This is his second straight 20-win season, becoming the sixth Viking under head coach Brian Etzkin to post multiple 20-win seasons during their careers.
VanMeter Closing In On 20-Win Season
Junior Joe VanMeter is just one win shy of a 20-win season after going 2-0 in singles play last weekend. VanMeter owns a 19-11 overall record this season and a 12-6 record this spring – with all 18 matches taking place at No. 1 or No. 2 singles. VanMeter is currently on a three-match winstreak, and has won five out of his last seven matches.
Individuals In Horizon League Play
Entering Saturday's contest at Green Bay two Vikings are a perfect 3-0 in Horizon League singles play – Manuel Bellutti and Ali Shabib. Bellutti and Shabib are two of nine Horizon League players to post singles wins in all of their teams league contests so far this season. After the first three league contests, CSU is 12-6 in singles play as a team, with perfect 3-0 records at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles.
CSU Doubles In Horizon League Play
Cleveland State also has a doubles team that is a perfect 3-0 in Horizon League play this season, as Ali Shabib and Nolan Marks have posted an undefeated record at No. 1 doubles. Overall this spring, Shabib and Marks are 9-3 at the top of the doubles lineup.
Cleveland State Winstreak Snapped
The Vikings were able to extend their winstreak to seven matches last Friday, before snapping the streak at Youngstown State. Cleveland State's seven-match winstreak is the fourth longest streak over the past 12 seasons, and the longest streak since the 2010-11 season when the Vikings won 10 straight matches at one point in the season. Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings have won six or more consecutive matches nine times.
Bellutti Closing In On 50 Wins
Playing in just his second season as a Viking, senior Manuel Bellutti is closing in on 50 career singles wins, entering the weekend with a 45-15 record on his career. Bellutti, who has a team-best 20-6 singles record this season, would become the 12th Viking all-time to notch 50 career singles wins and the fourth to do so this season. As a junior Bellutti posted a 25-9 singles record - a mark that ranks fifth on the CSU single-season wins list.
Scouting the Musketeers
Xavier enters Tuesday's match with a 10-5 overall record this spring, and has won five of its last seven matches. CSU will be Xavier's second Horizon League opponent of the season, as the Musketeers posted a 7-0 victory over Wright State earlier this year.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings own a 5-4 record against Xavier.
Scouting the Phoenix
Green Bay enters the weekend with a 13-7 overall record this spring and a perfect 3-0 mark in Horizon League play. So far this season Green Bay has defeated Detroit, UIC, and Valparaiso – one of two league teams to be undefeated in league play this season (along with YSU). Michael Tenzer has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week four times this season, while Howard Scott and Leopold Gomez Islinger have each picked up the honor once.
The Vikings are 10-9 against Green Bay under head coach Brian Etzkin.
Scouting the Golden Eagles
Marquette enters the weekend with a 9-8 overall record this spring, and will face Youngstown State prior to Sunday's match against Cleveland State. The Golden Eagles have taken advantage of playing at home this season, owning a 6-1 record on their home courts.
This will be just the third meeting between the two teams over the past 12 seasons, with Marquette owning a 2-0 advantage in the overall series.
