CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will hit the road for a three-match roadswing to close out regular season action, beginning with a matchup at Youngstown State this Saturday.
Saturday, April 15 | @ Youngstown State | 3:00 p.m.
Boardman Tennis Center | 1223 W. Western Reserve Road | Youngstown, Ohio | 44514
Last Time Out…
The Vikings split their final homestand in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion last weekend, dropping a hard fought 4-3 match against Detroit Mercy and picking up a 5-2 victory over Denison. Benjamin Slade was the lone Viking to go 2-0 in singles action on the day, posting back-to-back wins at the No. 4 spot, while the doubles team of Andre Mick and Nico Mostardi posted a 2-0 record at No. 3 doubles.
Senior Day Success
The senior duo of Colton Buffington and Andre Mick both picked up a singles win in their final match in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion last time out, as Buffington earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles and Mick posted a 6-1, 6-3 win at the No. 6 spot against Denison. Mick also went 2-0 at No. 3 doubles during his final homestand in a Viking uniform, while Buffington went 1-1 at No. 2 doubles.
Radosevic Closing In On 50 Career Singles Wins
Junior Mirko Radosevic enters the final stretch of regular season play closing in on 50 career singles victories, currently owning 47 career wins. With three more singles victories this spring, Radosevic would become the 12th Viking all-time to reach the 50-win milestone, and the first since the 2014-15 season.
Slade Continues Consistent Singles Play
Sophomore Benjamin Slade has been Cleveland State's most consistent player over the last few weeks, as he currently owns a team-best 8-3 record over the last 11 matches. Included in that record is a 4-1 mark against league opponents – also a team-best – playing all five of his league contests at the No. 4 singles spot. During dual match play Slade owns a 9-9 singles record, ranking second on the team with his spring season win total.
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 10-10 singles record this spring after playing all 20 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.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 15th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 216-154 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 Penguins
Youngstown State enters the weekend with a 15-7 overall record this spring, including a 3-2 mark against league opponents. The Penguins have won three out of their last four matches, but most recently fell to Detroit Mercy, 4-3. Before the spring season started, Youngstown State was selected to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin, the Vikings own a 17-6 record against the Penguins.
