April 18, 2009
Contact: Dana Ingraham
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland State extended its unbeaten streak in the Horizon League to six matches with a 6-1 victory over Wright State Saturday afternoon.
The Vikings' doubles game has reached its prime and is continuing to dominate the competition, as CSU swept the doubles matches to score the early point against Wright State. Horizon League Player of the Week Phil Orno and partner Ryan Hamning improved their record at No. 1 doubles to 17-2 this spring. The pair remains undefeated (6-0) in conference play.
Hamning also boasts a perfect singles record against Horizon League opponents. Playing predominately at No. 3, he moved to the second spot to issue Wright State's Jan Alafriz a 6-2, 6-1 decision.
Cleveland State controlled the match at nearly every spot in the lineup, picking up all of its points in straight sets. The men are now 16-5 as a team this spring.
"This was a big match for us and we came away with a good win," said CSU head coach Brian Etzkin. "We were able to get some breaks early in doubles play and it was good to get that quick point. With this win we may have unofficially clinched the top seed in the Horizon League tournament, but our goal is to finish what we started on the court tomorrow so there is no doubt."
CSU hosts Valparaiso in its last match of the regular season Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. A win over the Crusaders would bring the Vikings to one victory shy of their highest win total in a season (18), and a perfect regular season finish in the Horizon League (7-0).
First serves will take place outdoors at the Malaga Tennis Center, weather permitting. Play will be moved indoors to River Oaks Racquet Club in Rocky River in the case of rain.
Cleveland State 6, Wright State1
April 18, 2009, Malaga Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Orno/Hamning (CSU) def. Alafriz/Kruusmagi (WSU), 8-4
2. West/Goossens (CSU) def. Dredge/Neuman (WSU), 8-4
3. Fox/Wipprecht (CSU) def. Wowchuk/Rehg (WSU), 8-0
Exhibition match
4. Spirtos/Perkins (CSU) def. Stewart/Krick (WSU), 8-5
Singles
1. Phil Orno (CSU) def. Brian Dredge (WSU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Ryan Hamning (CSU) def. Jan Alafriz (WSU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Rob West (CSU) def. Landon Neuman (WSU), 6-3, 6-3
4. Yannick Goossens (CSU) def. Byron Wowchuk (WSU), 6-3, 6-1
5. Mihkel Kruusmagi (WSU) def. Robert Fox (CSU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
6. Steven Wipprecht (CSU) def. Pip Rehg (WSU), 6-3, 6-1
Exhibition match
7. Aris Spirtos (CSU) def. Brett Stewart (WSU), 8-6
