April 10, 2011
Contact: Greg Murphy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State stayed perfect in the Horizon League and the Vikings ran their win streak against league foes to 31 straight with a narrow 4-3 win at Butler on Sunday.
The win improves CSU to 12-7 overall and 6-0 in the league, clinching at least a share of the regular season title.
"Today was a thrilling win for us," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We didn't play our best doubles and lost that point and I wasn't sure if there were going to be four points out there with the way some of the matches were going. But the bottom part of our lineup really came through and freshman Matt Kuelker came through with a three-set clinching win today, his second such of the season.
"That's kind of been the story of the year for us. We have been getting different people to step up at key moments and today was no different. Chris Klepatz won some big points to get us a win at No. 4 singles and John Haley kept us his strong league season with another win. And the two freshmen (Matt Ford and Matt Kuelker) really came through for us today.
"Keeping the streak of wins over league opponents is nice, but that isn't what we are really focused on. We want to continue to go out and improve and work toward winning another league title."
Butler won the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Yannick Goossens and Klepatz teamed for an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles for CSU's lone win.
But the middle and bottom part of CSU's lineup took over in singles play, as the Vikings won from No. 3 to No. 6 singles to clinch the win.
Haley won at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-1, whle Ford won 6-0, 6-3 at No. 6 singles and Klepatz won at No. 4 singles, 7-5, 6-1.
With the match tied at 3-3, Kuelker came through with the clinching point, winning 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.
CSU is back in action on Saturday (April 16) when the Vikings host Detroit at 11:00 a.m.
Cleveland State 4, Butler 3
Apr 10, 2011 at Indianapolis, Ind.
Singles competition
1. BAYLISS, Brandon (BU) def. Goossens, Yannick (CSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. HERRON, Chris (BU) def. Fox, Rob (CSU) 6-3, 7-6
3. Kuelker, Matt (CSU) def. ERVIN, Zach (BU) 7-6, 5-7, 6-1
4. Klepatz, Chris (CSU) def. THEODOR, Lenz (BU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Haley, John (CSU) def. DOLINS, David (BU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Ford, Matt (CSU) def. DICARLO, Brad (BU) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. HERRON, Chris/WARREN, Bryce (BU) def. Fox, Rob/HALEY, John (CSU) 8-6
2. GOOSSENS, Yannick/KLEPATZ, Chris (CSU) def. BAYLISS, Brandon/THEODOR, Lenz (BU) 8-2
3. ERVIN, Zach/SHAFER, Ben (BU) def. FORD, Matt/KUELKER, Matt (CSU) 8-6
