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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Cleveland State women's tennis team advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament Friday morning, earning a 4-0 victory over sixth-seeded Wright State. The No. 3 seed Vikings will now face second-seeded Youngstown State in the first of two semifinal matches Saturday afternoon.
"We faced a familiar Wright State team today and we were able to pull out a quick 4-0 victory to advance to the semifinals," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "The bottom of our singles lineup was very strong today - taking care of business to get the quick points for us. We really had some good, tough matches going at the top of the lineup and they were really battling in case we needed the matches. Now we will have a quick turnaround and prepare for a tough Youngstown State team that we will face in the semifinals."
The Vikings quickly got out to a 1-0 lead after picking up the doubles point - earning victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. The No. 2 duo of Alex Power and Maria Lazaris cruised to an 8-1 win, while the No. 1 tandem of Alex Bush and Kara Sherwoodfinished right behind with an 8-3 decision.
During singles play the Vikings were led by the bottom of the lineup, as Maria Lazaris and Nicole Janek were able to pick up quick two-set victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Lazaris posted CSU's second point with a 6-1, 6-1 win, and then Janek earned a 6-1, 6-0 win for the third point.
Alex Bush clinched the match for the Vikings at No. 3 singles, posting a 6-2, 6-1 victory. CSU was also up at No. 4 and No. 1 singles before the matches were called - Kara Sherwood up 6-0, 5-2 at the No. 4 spot and Mathilde Orange up 6-5 at No. 1 singles.
Saturday's (April 27) semifinal match between the Vikings and Youngstown State is set for a 12:00 p.m. start at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
Cleveland State 4, Wright State 0
Doubles:
1. SHERWOOD, Kara/BUSH, Alex (CSU) def. HINES, Taylor/NINI, Amy (WSU) 8-3
2. POWER, Alex/LAZARIS, Maria (CSU) def. BASTOCK, Alex/MCNAMARA, Megan (WSU) 8-1
3. ORANGE, Mathilde/JANEK, Nicole (CSU) vs. GIRGASH, Chelsea/TUSCANY, Kayla (WSU) 3-4, unfinished
Singles:
1. Orange, Mathilde (CSU) vs. TUSCANY, Kayla (WSU) 6-5, unfinished
2. Power, Alex (CSU) vs. BASTOCK, Alex (WSU) 5-6, unfinished
3. BUSH, Alex (CSU) def. NINI, Amy (WSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Sherwood, Kara (CSU) vs. HINES, Taylor (WSU) 6-0, 5-2, unfinished
5. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) def. GIRGASH, Chelsea (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Janek, Nicole (CSU) def. MCNAMARA, Megan (WSU) 6-1, 6-0