CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will host its final homestand of the season this weekend, hosting Wright State on Saturday, April 14 and Northern Kentucky on Sunday, April 15.
Saturday, April 14 | Wright State | 2:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
LIVE STATS
Sunday, April 15 | Northern Kentucky | 2:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
LIVE STATS
Senior Weekend
This weekend will be the final homestand for Mirko Radosevic – the lone senior on the 2017-18 roster – as the Vikings will honor him at the Friends, Family and Alumni banquet prior to this weekend's matches. Radosevic has been an integral part of the singles and doubles lineup throughout his career, joining the 50-win club earlier this season and closing in on a spot on the CSU Singles Wins List over the final weeks of the spring season.
Last Time Out…
The Vikings dropped their first #HLMTEN match of the season, falling in a 4-3 decision at Detroit Mercy. With the loss, the Vikings slipped to 11-10 overall this year and 2-1 in Horizon League play.
The Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion
The Vikings will be playing in the friendly confines of the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion for the final time during the 2017-18 campaign this weekend, looking to improve on their 9-1 record that they own at the MMTP this season. Cleveland State is calling the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion home for the third year, and stands at 15-8 all-time in matches played in the MMTP.
Slade & Radosevic Closing In On CSU Singles Wins List
Entering this weekend's final homestand, Benjamin Slade and Mirko Radosevic are closing in on earning a spot in the top-10 on the CSU Singles Wins List, as Slade owns 55 career singles victories and Radosevic owns 54 career wins. To earn a spot in the top-10, Slade needs three more wins and Radosevic needs four, and would become the first Vikings to crack the top-10 since the 2015 season.
Terry, Phillips & Slade Perfect In #HLMTEN Play
After three weeks of Horizon League play, the trio of Matthew Terry, Luke Phillips and Benjamin Slade all own perfect 3-0 singles records against league opponents, with Terry playing at No. 2 singles, Phillips appearing at the No. 3 spot, and Slade playing at No. 4 singles. The last time a Viking played a complete league schedule and went undefeated in league play was during the 2013-14 season (Joe VanMeter & Manuel Bellutti), while the last time a Viking freshman achieved the feat was during the 2010-11 campaign (Matt Kuelker).
20-Win Trio
So far this season the Vikings have been led by the trio of Nico Mostardi, Matthew Terry and Luke Phillips, who have combined for 67 of Cleveland State's 115 singles wins. Terry owns a team-best 23 singles wins, while Mostardi and Phillips enter the weekend with 22 victories. This trio marks the fifth time in program history that three Vikings on the same roster have recorded 20 or more singles wins in the same season.
…Slade Closing In On 20-Win Campaign
Benjamin Slade enters the final stretch of regular season play just one win shy of joining the 20-win club, currently standing at 19-12 this season. Slade, who owns a team-best 13-6 record this spring, would notch the second 20-win season of his career (21 wins during 2015-16), and would become the eighth Viking all-time to own multiple 20-win campaigns. With one more win, Slade would be the fourth Viking to reach the 20-win milestone this year, marking the third time under head coach Brian Etzkin that four Vikings have recorded 20+ wins in the same season.
Vikings Tabbed Preseason Favorites In Horizon League
arlier this season, Cleveland State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League, collecting 46 points and four first place votes in the preseason poll. Over the last six years that the league has been releasing a preseason poll, this marked the first time that the Vikings were favored to win and the fifth time that Cleveland State was a top-two selection.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 16th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 228-169 dual match record. Etzkin has guided the Vikings to five Horizon League Tournament titles and five trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. Last spring, Etzkin helped lead the Vikings to the Championship match of the Horizon League Tournament, making their eighth appearance in the title match.
Scouting The Raiders
Wright State enters the weekend with a 12-8 overall record, including an even 2-2 mark against league opponents. The Raiders, who were picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, have picked up wins against Northern Kentucky (7-0) and IUPUI (5-2) in league play so far this season.
This will be the 19th meeting between the two teams, with Cleveland State owning a 15-3 advantage in the overall series.
Scouting The Norse
Northern Kentucky currently stands at 2-10 this spring and 0-4 in league action, and will take on Youngstown State prior to Sunday's match against the Vikings. NKU's two wins on the season have come against Pikeville and Thomas More College, while they enter the weekend on an eight-match losing skid.
This will be just the third meeting between the two teams, with NKU picking up matching 4-3 victories in both of the first two matchups.
