March 18, 2004
Contact: Kevin Zeise
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Cleveland State men's tennis team moved above .500 for the first time this season, scoring a 5-2 win over Fairfield on Wednesday to conclude their spring break trip in Orlando, Fla. The Vikings have won four straight, including all three matches in Florida, and eight of their last nine in moving to 9-8 on the year after opening the season 1-7.
"We played a strong doubles point against a good opponent," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "They're in the same conference as Niagara, so we had a bit of a feel for them, and we knew they'd be tough."
The Vikings claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Eric Winn and Jay Tee were victorious at No. 1, defeating Steve Kouri and Colin Torrance, 8-5, while Paul Haley and Jordan Reynolds won at No. 3, beating Michael Thiel and Zach Morrison, 8-3.
Cleveland State clinched the match with wins at the top and bottom of the singles lineup. Winn defeated Jonathan Fernando, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4) at No. 1, with Brett Aronson picking up a 6-4, 6-4, win over Steve Kouri at No. 2. Haley knocked off Morrison at No. 5, 6-1, 6-2, with Reynolds winning at No. 6 over Paul Goldbeck, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The Vikings will now have several weeks to prepare for their return to Horizon League competition, taking on Butler on Sunday, April 4, in Indianapolis.
