CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will close out the month of February with a pair of dual matches this weekend, hosting Butler on Friday (Feb. 26), and traveling to Ball State on Sunday (Feb. 28).
Friday, February 26 | vs. Butler | 7:00 p.m.
Paramount Tennis Club | 31550 Viking Parkway | Westlake, Ohio | 44145
Sunday, February 28 | @ Ball State | 1:00 p.m.
Muncie Indoor Tennis Courts | 3500 Chadam Lane | Muncie, Ind. | 47304
VanMeter In The Record Book
Entering the weekend, Joe VanMeter is just two wins shy of becoming the seventh Viking all-time to record 70 career singles wins. VanMeter currently ranks seventh on the CSU Singles Wins list with 68 victories, and has a team-best 7-3 singles record this spring.
Goth Enters Weekend On Winstreak
Entering the weekend, sophomore Kevin Goth is on a three-match winstreak, standing at 6-3 during singles play this spring. Goth has spent time at No. 4 and No. 5 singles for the Vikings, most recently playing at the No. 4 spot against Buffalo and St. Bonaventure. Goth is one of two Vikings to enter the weekend on a winstreak, as Benjamin Slade has also won two straight matches entering Friday's contest against Butler.
On The Road Again
For the first time during the month of February the Vikings will be playing at home this weekend, as they are set to host Butler on Friday evening. Cleveland State will play eight of its nine matches on the road this month, traveling over 2,250 miles, including a trip to Ball State to close out the weekend on Sunday (Feb. 28).
Cleveland State's New Domicile
Later this spring the Vikings will be playing in a new indoor home, as construction is continuing on the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion. The MMTP will be located on the Cleveland State campus at the corner of East 21st Street and Chester Avenue and will feature six indoor courts. For more information on the construction of the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, CLICK HERE.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is leading the Vikings for the 14th season, owning a 199-132 dual match record during his tenure. Etzkin, who has led the Vikings to five Horizon League titles, is the all-time winningest coach in program history and is just one win shy of notching 200 on his career. With one dual match victories, Etzkin would become just the second active Horizon League men's tennis coach to reach the 200-win milestone, joining Valparaiso's Jim Daugherty.
Scouting The Bulldogs
Butler enters Friday's contest with a 3-6 record this spring, including a win over Northern Illinois last time out. Cleveland State will be the third Horizon Leauge opponent for the Bulldogs this year, as Butler also faced Green Bay (L, 6-1) and Valparaiso (L, 7-0) earlier this spring.
This will be the 17th meeting between the two teams over the past 13 seasons, with the overall series tied at 8-8. Entering Friday's match, the Vikings have won eight straight against the Bulldogs.
Ball State enters the weekend with a 2-3 record this spring, and will take on IU Southeast and Taylor prior to Sunday's match against the Vikings. Cleveland State will be the second Horizon League opponent for the Cardinals this spring, as they defeated Detroit (5-2) earlier this year.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings own a 2-0 record against Ball State, picking up wins in each of the last two seasons.
