CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will return to Horizon League play this weekend, hitting the road for the final time during regular season play to take on Northern Kentucky and Wright State.
Saturday, April 13 | @ Northern Kentucky | 11:00 a.m.
Lindner Tennis Center at Lunken | 4750 Playfield Lane | Cincinnati, Ohio | 45226
Sunday, April 14 | @ Wright State | 9:00 a.m.
South Regency Tennis & Fitness Center | 3020 W. Tech Rd. | Miamisburg, Ohio | 45342
*Make sure to check CSUVikings.com for up-to-date match locations & times due to the forecasted weather this weekend.
Last Time Out…
The Vikings picked up their fourth straight win, earning a 5-2 victory against Case Western in the final non-league match of the season. With the win, the Vikings picked up their league-leading 13th victory of the spring.
Vikings Return To #HLMTEN Play
After facing their final non-league opponent of the regular season last time out, the Vikings will be returning to Horizon League play this weekend with just two more weeks left of regular season play. Entering the weekend, Cleveland State owns a perfect 2-0 record against league opponents, standing as one of just two teams to be undefeated in league play this year.
Slade Notches 75th Career Victory
After picking up a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 3 singles against Case Western last time out, senior Benjamin Slade notched his 75th career victory, becoming the sixth Viking all-time to reach the milestone. Slade, who enters the weekend ranked sixth on the CSU Singles Wins List, needs just five more wins to reach the 80-win plateau.
Terry Closing In On Win #50
Following a 6-3, 6-2 win at the top of the lineup against Case Western, sophomore Matthew Terry enters the weekend just three wins shy of notching his 50th career win. Terry, who enters the NKU match with 47 career wins, stands at 19-11 overall and 9-7 this spring. Terry would become the 15th Viking all-time with 50+ career victories.
Bilinovich Closing In On Single-Season Wins List
Entering the weekend, freshman Clark Bilinovich owns a team-high 24 singles wins and is just one win shy of earning a spot on the CSU Single-Season Wins List. Bilinovich, who also has a team-best 15 wins this spring, became the 15th Viking to notch a 20-win campaign with a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Wooster earlier this year.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 17th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 248-177 dual match record. With just two more wins, Etzkin would become the first active Horizon League men's coach to reach the 250-win plateau. Last year, Etzkin guided the Vikings to their sixth Horizon League Tournament title and sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament, while posting his 13th winning season at Cleveland State.
Scouting The Norse
Northern Kentucky enters the weekend with a 5-9 overall record this spring and a 1-3 mark against Horizon League opponents. NKU, who was selected to finish seventh in the preseason poll, picked up its lone win in league play with a 5-2 decision over Wright State.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams, with NKU owning the slight 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Scouting The Raiders
Wright State currently stands at 7-16 overall this season and 0-4 in Horizon League play. The Raiders, who enter the weekend on a 10-match losing skid, will host Youngstown State prior to Sunday's match against the Vikings.
This will be the 20th meeting between the two teams under head coach Brian Etzkin, with the Vikings owning a 16-3 advantage in the all-time series.
