CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will hit the road for the first time during Horizon League play this weekend, continuing league action with a pair of matches at Northern Kentucky and Wright State.
Saturday, April 1 | @ Northern Kentucky | 3:30 p.m.
Five Seasons Sports Club | 345 Thomas More Parkway | Crestview Hills, Ky. | 41017
Sunday, April 2 | @ Wright State | 11:00 a.m.
Springboro High School | 1675 S. Main Street | Springboro, Ohio | 45066
Follow Along Live!
Fans that are unable to attend this Saturday's match at Northern Kentucky will still be able to follow along live, with Live Results available via the men's tennis schedule page on CSUVikings.com.
Last Time Out…
The Vikings split their Horizon League opening weekend matches, picking up a 6-1 victory over UIC before falling to preseason favorite Valparaiso, 7-0. The 6-1 win against the Flames marked the 11th time under head coach Brian Etzkin that the Vikings have won their Horizon League opener, while it also extended Cleveland State's winstreak against UIC to 14 straight matches.
Radosevic Closing In On 50 Career Singles Wins
After going 1-1 at No. 3 singles to start Horizon League play, junior Mirko Radosevic enters the weekend closing in on 50 career singles victories, currently owning 46 career wins. Radosevic, who has a 7-7 singles mark this spring, would become the 12th Viking all-time to reach the 50-win milestone.
Mostardi Leads Cleveland State Singles Lineup
Freshman Nico Mostardi continues to lead the Vikings at the top of the singles lineup, owning a team-best 8-8 singles record this spring after playing all 16 matches at the No. 1 spot. Mostardi, who is the only rookie to appear at the top of the singles lineup during Horizon League play so far this season, is also the first Cleveland State freshman to play at No. 1 singles since the 2011-12 season.
Vikings Tabbed Second In Horizon League Preseason Poll
Earlier this season, Cleveland State was selected to finish second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, picking up 35 points and one first-place vote. The Vikings were selected behind preseason favorite and reigning Horizon League Champion, Valparaiso. This is the fifth year that the Horizon League has released a preseason poll, with the Vikings earning a top-two selection in four of the five polls.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 15th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 214-152 dual match record. Etzkin has guided the Vikings to five Horizon League Tournament titles and five trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. Etzkin recorded his 200th career victory with the men's team last spring, becoming just the second active Horizon League men's tennis coach to achieve the feat.
Scouting The Norse
Entering Saturday's contest Northern Kentucky stands at 4-4 overall this season, most recently dropping a 4-3 contest at Green Bay in their Horizon League opener. The Norse, who are currently on a two-match losing skid, were tabbed to finish in a tie for third in the Horizon League Preseason poll.
This will be just the second meeting between the two teams under head coach Brian Etzkin, with Northern Kentucky picking up a 4-3 victory last year in the first-ever matchup.
Scouting The Raiders
Wright State enters the weekend with a 3-13 overall record this season, and will face Youngstown State prior to Sunday's match against the Vikings. The Raiders were selected to finish eighth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, and dropped their league-opener at Green Bay, 5-2.
This will be the 18th meeting between the two teams over the last 15 seasons, with Cleveland State owning a 14-3 record in the overall series.
