"So far I am really proud of our first men's tournament in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, we are so proud of this facility and it is awesome that we are able to showcase it during the fall season," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "The team played very hard today, and we are definitely looking to build on the success of day one as we move to day two. There is a lot of good tennis left to play, and it will certainly be a build on the success of day one as we move onto day two. Theren exciting second and third day at the Viking Invitational."
In the main singles draw, the Vikings picked up a pair of wins from Mirko Radosevic and Nico Mostardi. Radosevic picked up his victory over Alonso Lauz of Youngstown State in a 7-5, 7-6 (6) decision in the opening round before falling to an opponent from Northern Illinois in the second round. Mostardi, the top-seeded singles player in the tournament, picked up a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the second round over YSU's Gabriel Tolesani, and advances to play in the round of 16 tomorrow.
The Vikings were also able to pick up a pair of consolation singles wins on the opening day of the Viking Invitational, with Colton Buffington and William Malm earning a victory in the first round of the singles backdraw. Buffington posted a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Morgan State's Sagar Sathyanarayanan, with Malm notching a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lucas Krusinski also of MSU.
Benjamin Slade and Malm had Cleveland State's best showing in the main doubles draw on Friday, as the duo picked up two wins to advance to the quarterfinals of the bracket. In the opening round, the duo picked up a 7-6 (4) victory over a Youngstown State team, and followed that up with a 6-2 win over a tandem from Case Western. Kevin Goth and Jack Santilli also posted a victory in the main doubles draw, as they picked up a 6-0 victory before falling in the second round.
Cleveland State's final doubles victory came from Mirko Radosevic and Andre Mick, as the duo picked up a 6-3 victory over Case Western in the doubles backdraw.
Action at the Viking Invitational will continue tomorrow (Saturday, November 5), with play beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Singles Main Draw
Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. Alonso Lauz (YSU), 7-5, 7-6 (6)
Carlose Manzanas (NIU) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 6-2, 7-5
Arun Ramakrishnan (MSU) def. Kevin Goth (CSU), 7-5, 5-7, 10-7
Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) def. Colton Buffington (CSU), 7-6 (3), 6-3
Sidd Rajupet (CWRU) def. William Malm (CSU), 3-6, 6-2, 11-9
Vince Anzalone (UT) def. Jack Santilli (CSU), 6-2, 6-3
Nico Mostardi (CSU) def. Gabriel Tolesani (YSU), 6-3, 6-4
Singles Consolation Matches
Colton Buffington (CSU) def. Sagar Sathyanarayanan (MSU), 6-0, 6-4
William Malm (CSU) def. Lucas Krusinski (MSU), 6-2, 6-4
Ondrej Labik (MSU) def. Jack Santilli (CSU), 6-2, 5-7, 1-0(8)
Doubles Main Draw
Goth/Santilli (CSU) def. Squire/Guthrie (CW/JC), 6-0
Maroscher/Rodrigues (YSU) def. Goth/Santilli (CSU), 6-3
Slade/Malm (CSU) def. Kritzinger/Purser (YSU), 7-6 (4)
Slade/Malm (CSU) def. Daum/Benedetto (CWRU), 6-2
Tolesani/Virgile (YSU) def. Radosevic/Mick (CSU), 7-6 (5)
Ramakrishnan/Krusinski (MSU) def. Buffington/Mostardi (CSU), 7-5
Doubles Consolation Matches
Radosevic/Mick (CSU) def. Rajupet/Collins (CWRU), 6-3
