SPRINGBORO, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team got back on the winning track Sunday afternoon, picking up a 6-1 victory at Wright State to improve to 2-2 in Horizon League action this season.
"This was a good quality win for us today, I know that Wright State will be improving quickly, and I'm happy to get the win and close out the roadswing on a good note," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Due to injuries and sickness we had to shift both our doubles and singles lineups, but those that were called on to step up did just that. Although there were some hairy moments today, the guys were able to win some big points, in big games and big moments, which was great."
For just the second time in Horizon League play this season the Vikings were able to pick up the first point of the match, claiming doubles victories at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. At the top of the lineup, Mirko Radosevic and Benjamin Slade earned a 6-1 victory, while Nico Mostardi and Andre Mick posted a matching 6-1 victory at No. 3 doubles.
The Vikings then got out to a 2-0 lead at the start of singles play, as Slade posted a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles. Slade, who is now 3-1 against league opponents this season, was the only Viking to pick up a straight-set singles win against the Raiders.
Although Wright State picked up the next singles point with a win at the No. 5 spot, Cleveland State rattled off four straight wins to close out the match for the 6-1 victory.
Cleveland State's third point of the match came from Radosevic at No. 3 singles, as he posted a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory. Radosevic now has 47 career singles wins, and is just three victories shy of becoming the 12th Viking all-time to reach 50 career singles wins.
The clinching point of the match came from Colton Buffington at No. 2 singles then, as he earned a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory to improve to 3-1 in league action this season.
Mostardi was able to get back on the winning track against Wright State Sunday, battling for a 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) victory at the top of the lineup. Mostardi owns a team-best 16-15 overall record this season, including a 9-9 record this spring.
The final point of the match came from Jack Santilli at the No. 6 spot, as he moved back into the singles lineup and captured a 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 1-0 (8) victory. The win was Santilli's first in Horizon League play.
Cleveland State will return home next weekend, hosting Detroit and Denison on Sunday, April 9 in the final home matches of the 2017 spring season.
Cleveland State 6, Wright State 1
Doubles
1. Radosevic/Slade (CSU) def. Cellupica-Towers/Brezing (WSU), 6-1
2. Buffington/Goth (CSU) vs. Nardelli/Perkins (WSU), 5-3, unf.
3. Mostardi/Mick (CSU) def. Ueltzhoeffer/Villa (WSU), 6-1
Singles
1. Nico Mostardi (CSU) def. Jacob Perkins (WSU), 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4)
2. Colton Buffington (CSU) def. Jonas Brezing (WSU), 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4
3. Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. Fernando Nardelli (WSU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
4. Benjamin Slade (CSU) def. Javier Villa (WSU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Marcel Ueltzhoeffer (WSU) def. Kevin Goth (CSU), 6-1, 6-3
6. Jack Santilli (CSU) def. D. Cellupica-Towers (WSU), 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 1-0 (8)