March 29, 2007

Contact: Josh Rattray

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State swept every match en route to a 7-0 win over Walsh on Thursday at the Malaga Tennis Center. The win moves the Vikings to 13-6 on the season.

After sweeping all three doubles matches, the Vikings made quick work of Walsh, a team they had defeated just 4-3 a year ago.

"This is a good win for us," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Walsh is always a good team with some competitive players."

No CSU player lost more than six games, with the Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches the most competitive of the day. Junior Brad Groleski won in the top spot 6-4, 6-2 over Stephen Webster and Phil Orno defeated Dexter Mahase in the closest contests of the day.

Sophomore Steven Wipprecht won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to provide CSU's largest margin of victory.

The win over the local NAIA foe is good for Cleveland State's controlling tennis in the area, according to Etzkin.

"Whenever we play teams from northeast Ohio, we want to win to help to establish our program as the best in northeast Ohio," he said.

The Vikings return to action at Duquesne on Friday for a 6:00 p.m. contest.

DOUBLES RESULTS

Hamning/Orno def. Webster/D. Mahase (WU) - 8-5

Groleski/Singer def. Smith/Collins (WU) - 8-4

West/Wiprecht def. Kirschbaum/Grahame (WU) - 8-3

SINGLES RESULTS

Brad Groleski def. Stephen Webster (WU) - 6-4, 6-2

Phil Orno def. Dexter Mahase (WU) - 6-3, 6-3

Ryan Hamning def. Shawn Mahase (WU) - 6-0, 6-3

Dan Singer def. Justin Collins (WU) - 6-3, 6-1

Rob West def. Greg Kirschbaum (WU) - 6-3, 6-1

Steven Wipprecht def. Andy Cuotts (WU) - 6-0, 6-1

EXHIBITION

Danny Popescu def. Nicholas Grahame (WU) - 0-3, ret.