CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will close out the regular season at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion this weekend, hosting IUPUI (Friday, April 19) and UIC (Saturday, April 20) with a chance to capture the 2019 Horizon League Regular Season Championship.
Friday, April 19 | IUPUI | 1:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
Live Scoring
Saturday, April 20 | UIC | 10:00 a.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
Live Scoring
Last Time Out…
The Vikings picked up back-to-back 6-1 victories at Northern Kentucky and Wright State, improving to 15-7 overall this year and 4-0 in league play, while extending their win streak to six straight matches.
Vikings In #HLMTEN Play
Cleveland State enters the final week of regular season play as one of two undefeated teams in Horizon League play (UIC), standing at 4-0 with two matches left on the slate. The Vikings, who have won four straight matches to begin #HLMTEN play for the fourth time under head coach Brian Etzkin, will have a chance to capture their fifth Horizon League Regular Season title this weekend.
…Vikings In The MMTP
The Vikings will return to the friendly confines of the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion for the final time this season, owning a 7-2 record in the MMTP so far this year. Cleveland State is 24-9 all-time when playing in the MMTP over the last four years.
Viking Trio Perfect In Horizon League Singles Play
Entering the final two matches of the regular season, the Cleveland State trio of Clark Bilinovich, Nico Mostardi and Benjamin Slade all stand at 4-0 in #HLMTEN singles play. Cleveland State is the only league team with multiple players owning perfect marks in league play, while Slade stands at 11-0 in league singles matches over the last two years.
Bilinovich On Single-Season Wins List
After picking up a pair of wins at No. 5 singles against NKU and WSU last weekend, Clark Bilinovich is now tied for seventh on the CSU Single-Season Wins List with 26 victories this year. Bilinovich, who leads the team with his 26 singles wins, is just three wins shy of tying the program record for wins in a season.
Malm & Bilinovich Earn #HLMTEN Weekly Honors
Earlier this week, the Cleveland State duo of William Malm and Clark Bilinovich picked up Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week honors. Malm and Bilinovich went 2-0 at No. 3 doubles to help the Vikings pick up both doubles points last weekend, and became the second Viking tandem to earn the weekly honor this season.
Mostardi & Terry Record 20th Singles Wins
Nico Mostardi and Matthew Terry both went 2-0 in singles play last weekend, recording their 20th singles wins of the year. Mostardi, who owns a 21-10 record, picked up his 20th win in a 6-2, 5-7, 1-0(6) decision at Northern Kentucky, while Terry (21-11) also earned his 20th victory against the Norse in a 6-3, 6-3 decision. Mostardi and Terry became the third and fourth Vikings to reach the 20-win mark this year, and became the ninth and 10th Vikings all-time with multiple 20-win campaigns.
…Terry Closing In On Win #50
Entering the final weekend of regular season play, sophomore Matthew Terry is just one win shy of recording his 50th career singles win. Terry, who enters the IUPUI match on Friday with 49 career wins, owns an 11-7 record this spring. Terry would become the 15th Viking all-time with 50+ career wins, and the first to reach the milestone as a sophomore.
Slade & Mostardi Move Up Doubles Wins List
Following a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles against Northern Kentucky, the Cleveland State tandem of Benjamin Slade and Nico Mostardi moved into a tie for sixth place on the CSU Doubles Wins List with 23 career victories. This season, the duo owns a team-best 15-7 doubles record, including a 10-6 mark this spring. Slade and Mostardi are one of just three doubles teams in the league to have 10+ wins this spring.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 17th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 250-177 dual match record. With the 6-1 victory at Wright State last time out, Etzkin became the first active Horizon League men's coach with 250 career wins at their current school. 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 Jaguars
IUPUI enters Friday's match with a 13-8 overall record this year, and a 3-1 mark against Horizon League opponents. IUPUI's lone loss in league play came against UIC in a 4-3 decision, while the Jaguars were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll earlier this year.
This will be the seventh meeting between the two teams under head coach Brian Etzkin, with Cleveland State owning a 4-2 edge in the all-time series.
Scouting The Flames
UIC enters the weekend standing at 5-12 overall this year and 4-0 in #HLMTEN play, and will take on Youngstown State prior to Saturday's match against the Vikings. The Flames, who were selected to finish fourth in the preseason poll, enter the weekend having won four of their last five matches.
This will be the 23rd meeting between the two teams over the last 17 seasons, with Cleveland State owning a 17-6 advantage in the all-time series.
