KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Cleveland State men's tennis team opened the 2016 fall season Saturday, participating in the WMU/Vredevelt Invite.
"Overall I thought we did a good job for the first day of competition during the fall season, I thought we did a nice job of transitioning to outside tennis after practicing indoors through the first few weeks," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We were able to get out to a good start in doubles play, which allowed us to continue some of that momentum into singles action. The entire team had great energy, passion, and effort today, with Jack being the highlight of the day. He definitely made an announcement to college tennis that he is here to play, and I thought he picked up two good singles wins and a doubles victory to begin his Viking career. Hopefully the team can turn it on again tomorrow and close out the first weekend of the fall season on a good foot."
During singles play, Cleveland State was led by freshman Jack Santilli, as he was the lone Viking to go 2-0 in singles play on the day. Santilli picked up his first collegiate singles win with a 6-0, 6-3 decision against Xavier's Nick Werner, and then followed that up with a 5-7, 7-5, 10-3 win over Illinois State's Andreas Boers.
Three other Vikings went 1-1 during singles play at the WMU/Vredevelt Invite, including Mirko Radosevic, Andre Mick, and Nico Mostardi.
Radosevic earned a 0-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory over Xavier's Matt Bishop, while Mick's win came as a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Peter Foersom of Illinois State and Mostardi picked up his first collegiate singles win against Illinois State's Egehan Sertkaya (6-0, 6-1).
In doubles action, the Vikings were able to pick up two victories against Illinois State during the first round, as Benjamin Slade and Mostardi picked up an 8-6 win and Mick and Santilli posted an 8-5 victory.
Cleveland State will wrap up play at the WMU/Vredevelt tomorrow (Sunday, September 25), with two rounds of doubles and one round of singles beginning at 9:00 a.m.
WMU/Vredevelt Invite Day 1 Results
Doubles – Round 1
Steffens/Foersom (ISU) def. Goth/Malm (CSU), 8-5
Slade/Mostardi (CSU) def. Boers/Sertkaya (ISU), 8-6
Mick/Santilli (CSU) def. Greve/Chomali (ISU), 8-5
Singles – Round 1
Jeremy Schneider (XU) def. William Malm (CSU), 5-7, 6-1, 10-5
Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. Matt Bishop (XU), 0-6, 6-4, 10-8
Jack Santilli (CSU) def. Nick Werner (XU), 6-0, 6-3
Jack Dykema (XU) def. Benjamin Slade (CSU), 7-5, 6-4
Gabe Araujo (XU) def. Andre Mick (CSU), 6-2, 6-4
Nate Dell (XU) def. Kevin Goth (CSU), 1-6, 6-1, 14-12
Kris Knof (WMU) def. Nico Mostardi (CSU), 6-2, 6-3
Singles – Round 2
Urh Domiter (ISU) def. William Malm (CSU), 7-5, 6-1
Dylan Steffens (ISU) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 7-5, 6-1
Jack Santilli (CSU) def. Andreas Boers (ISU), 5-7, 7-5, 10-3
Christoffer Greve (ISU) def. Benjamin Slade (CSU), 6-3, 6-3
Andre Mick (CSU) def. Peter Foersom (ISU), 6-1, 6-4
Matias Chomali (ISU) def. Kevin Goth (CSU), 6-1, 6-1
Nico Mostardi (CSU) def. Egehan Sertkaya (ISU), 6-0, 6-1