BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Lauren Golick and Victoria Bensimon both went 2-0 in their respective singles flights Friday, as the Cleveland State women's tennis team began the 2014 fall season at the BGSU Invitational.
"Overall we had a good day today, we were able to pick up some quality wins including some wins against league opponents," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "I was really pleased with the singles and doubles results today, and hopefully we will be able to continue that throughout the day tomorrow and finish strong. We set some goals for ourselves tomorrow, and we will continue to work hard and focus on what we need to improve on."
Lauren Golick went 2-0 in Flight 1 Singles action Friday, picking up a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Irina Slizovskaya of Detroit and a 3-6, 6-4, 10-2 victory over Cincinnati's Kelly Poggensee-Wei. Golick will now face IPFW's Mayu Sato in the championship match tomorrow morning.
Victoria Bensimon also picked up two singles victories for the Vikings, going 2-0 in Flight 4 Singles action. Bensimon picked up a 6-1, 7-6 (5) victory over Bianca Zuzu of UIC and a 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 win over Alina Schibol of IPFW. Because of a mistake in the setup of the Flight 4 Singles draw, Bensimon is now one of three players trying for a spot in the championship match. She will face Sidnay Huck of Toledo in an 8-game pro set, with the winner advancing to the championship match to face Ali Miller of Cincinnati.
"Lauren and Victoria both picked up some good wins for us today, and will try to bring home two championships when they continue play tomorrow. Lauren was playing high level tennis during her second match and posted a great comeback win. Victoria was able to close out two breakers today, which really showed her mental toughness which is great to see," Etzkin said.
The Vikings also had two doubles teams stay alive in the main draw Friday, Jana Schober and Princess Gbadamosi in Flight 2 and Lauren Golick and Ellen Folkers in Flight 3. Schober and Gbadamosi picked up an 8-6 victory over a Youngstown State duo, while Golick and Folkers earned an 8-2 win over a team from Bowling Green.
Cleveland State also had four other players go 1-1 in singles action Friday – Mathilde Orange and Princess Gbadamosi picking up wins against Youngstown State, Ellen Folkers earning a win against IPFW, and Aleksandra Golawska defeating an opponent from Cincinnati.
"Mathilde avenged her lost from the league finals last year against YSU, and is definitely taking a step in the right direction. Princess and Ellen were both playing better tennis today, while Olga (Aleksandra) was able to pick up her first collegiate win, which was great to see," Etzkin said.
Play will conclude at the BGSU Invitational tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 20), with two rounds of doubles and one round of singles beginning at 9:00 a.m.
***The Viking Tennis Family would like to extend their well wishes to the Youngstown State Family and Ana Stroe in hopes of a quick recovery so that she can be back on the courts soon!
BGSU Invitational Results
Flight 1 Singles
Lauren Golick (CSU) def. Irina Slizovskaya (UDM), 6-2, 6-1
Lauren Golick (CSU) def. Kelly Poggensee-Wei (UIC), 3-6, 6-4, 10-2
Flight 2 Singles
Carlota Trevino (IPFW) def. Jana Schober (CSU), 6-4, 6-3
Flight 3 Singles
Anna Davydova (UDM) def. Mathilde Orange (CSU), 6-4, 6-0
Mathilde Orange (CSU) def. Annina Brendel (YSU), 6-2, 7-5
Flight 4 Singles
Victoria Bensimon (CSU) def. Bianca Zuzu (UIC), 6-1, 7-6 (5)
Victoria Bensimon (CSU) def. Alina Schibol (IPFW), 5-7, 6-2, 10-8
Flight 5 Singles
Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Victoria Ferry (YSU), 6-1, 6-1
Mackenzie Bowman (UT) def. Princess Gbadmosi (CSU), 6-1, 6-2
Flight 6 Singles
Ellen Folkers (CSU) def. Emily Richardson (IPFW), 7-5, 6-4
Lauren Thai (UT) def. Ellen Folkers (CSU), 4-6, 6-1, 10-3
Flight 7 Singles
Alekxandra Golawska (CSU) def. Samantha Perry (UC), 6-0, 6-2
Sara Sherif (IPFW) def. Aleksandra Golawska (CSU), 6-3, 6-1
Flight 1 Doubles
Sato/Huck (IPFW) def. Bensimon/Golawska (CSU), 8-3
Flight 2 Doubles
Schober/Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Brendel/Stroe (YSU), 8-6
Flight 3 Doubles
Golick/Folkers (CSU) def. Miller/Witt (BGSU), 8-2
Flight 4 Doubles
Rygh (UT)/Ferry (YSU) def. Orange (CSU)/Perry (UC), 8-7 (6)
