March 14, 2009

Contact: Dana Ingraham

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Viking tennis programs are headed down to Orlando, Florida for their spring training trip from Sunday, March 15 to Thursday, March 19. Both teams will have a chance to mix up the competition as the men's team is scheduled to play two matches and the women will play four.

Play begins on Sunday when the men face off against Bethune-Cookman University at 3:00 p.m, and the women will challenge North Dakota.

The men's team will then train until Thursday, March 19 when they take on nationally ranked Florida Atlantic (77) at 12:00 p.m.

The Viking women will play Long Island University on Monday, March 16, followed by a double header on Thursday against Coastal Carolina and Fairleigh Dickinson to close out the trip.

"The purpose of this trip is to get our outdoor legs ready," said head coach Brian Etzkin. "This is our last chance to get into mid-season form, and I believe we are ready for the challenge."

Cleveland State boasts a 9-4 record on the men's side. The team is led by a strong doubles core made up of the junior duo, Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning. The pair won their first 11 matches at the No. 1 spot this spring before falling for the first time last week against Ohio State.

Orno, along with sophomore Robert Fox, also hold the team's best singles records to date. Orno is 10-2 at No. 1 and Fox is 10-3, playing predominately at No. 5. Additionally, four out of the top six Vikings are 8-2 in their last ten matches - Hamning and Cleveland State newcomer Yannick Goossens join Orno and Fox in this category.

The Vikings will look to put their skills to the test in preparation for the depth of their conference schedule that faces CSU upon its return home.

"We have a great opportunity to have a chance against another ranked team in Florida Atlantic," Etzkin said. "This will be a great test for us. We've competed well with teams at their level and it's time to put it together. Before that match, we are up against Bethune-Cookman which will be a tough competitor as well.

"We are competing at a high level right now and we need to push ourselves to one more level."

Cleveland State women hold a 7-6 record this spring going into the trip. Freshman Catrine Bjerrehus, Horizon League Player of the Week, and Myra Pepino lead the singles lineup with 7-6 records of their own. Bjerrehus has played at the first and second spots while Pepino has most recently been playing at No. 5.

Pepino and Sanda Bjelan have put together a 6-1 record, mostly at third doubles. Bjerrehus and Charlotte Gibbons have also been solid at No. 1.

The women will open Horizon League play when they come back to Cleveland.

"We have been getting better every day, both individually and as a team," said Etzkin. "The women are hungry and passionate, and I know they have their best tennis ahead of them."

CLEVELAND STATE MEN'S TENNIS
Florida Spring Training Trip
Sunday, March 15 vs. Bethune-Cookman
Thursday, March 19 vs. No. 77 Florida Atlantic

CLEVELAND STATE WOMEN'S TENNIS
Florida Spring Training Trip
Sunday, March 15 vs. North Dakota
Monday, March 16 vs. Long Island
Thursday, March 19 vs. Coastal Carolina
Thursday, March 19 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson