April 28, 2012
Contact: Renee Adam
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"This was one of the best victories that I have ever been a part of, the whole team really dug down and executed in each match," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We have had to write a different script this year coming in as the No. 4 seed, which has forced us to do things that we weren't able to do during the regular season. We are playing solid tennis right now and peaking at the right time. Turning around the doubles point today was one of the best parts of the match, all three doubles teams are finally playing at their highest level."
The Vikings came out firing in doubles play, earning the early 1-0 advantage. At No. 1 doubles Ali Shabib and Nolan Marks picked up an 8-5 victory, while the duo of Matt Kuelker and Jorg Van Der Vloet earned an 8-6 win at the No. 3 spot.
Shabib quickly extended CSU's lead, picking up a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles, while Kuelker gave the Vikings a 3-0 advantage with a straight set victory at the No. 2 spot. After falling behind in the first set, Kuelker battled back to pick up a 7-6 (6) win and followed that up with a 6-2 victory in the second frame.
Senior Yannick Goossens, who has now defeated the Horizon League Player of the Year twice over the past two weeks, clinched the match for Cleveland State with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles.
"Matt Kuelker played his best match of the season today and really gave us some energy during the singles matches. Ali has been playing great tennis down the stretch and he is finally able to control matches and come away with the results that he is looking for.
"Yannick beating the league player of the year twice is unbelievable. He played a solid match today and really gave the team some senior leadership. Nolan extending his match was a huge momentum lifter for us and not giving up a point really turned the match around," Etzkin said.
Tomorrow's championship match is scheduled to be played at North Central High School and will be streamed live on the Horizon League network. Check the men's tennis schedule page at www.CSUVikings.com for links to the stream.
Cleveland State 4, Wright State 0
Doubles:
1. Marks/Shabib (CSU) def. Clark/Joblin (WSU), 8-5
2. Arguello/Makikalli (WSU) vs. Goossens/Ford (CSU), 7-6 UF
3. Kuelker/van der Vloet (CSU) def. Harris/Neuman (WSU), 8-6
Singles:
1. Goossens, Yannick (CSU) def. ARGUELLO, Martin (WSU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Kuelker, Matt (CSU) def. JOBLIN, Hayden (WSU) 7-6 (6), 6-2
3. MAKIKALLI, Lauri (WSU) vs. Marks, Nolan (CSU) 6-3, 2-6, 3-0, unfinished
4. Shabib, Ali (CSU) def. LYZWA, Michal (WSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. CLARK, Jamison (WSU) vs. Van Der Vloet, Jorg (CSU) 3-3, unfinished
6. PINEDA, Ricardo (WSU) vs. Ford, Matt (CSU) unfinished
