CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's tennis team began the Horizon League portion of its schedule Friday evening, picking up a 4-3 victory over Wright State. The Vikings are now 5-7 overall this season and 1-0 in league play. Cleveland State also improved to 2-0 in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
"This was a great league match for us today, I thought this was a tough team to play right out of the gate because they are a very good team, so I'm happy with how we performed and happy to get the win," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "The doubles point was big for us today, Wright State has very good doubles teams, so for us to compete and pick up the early point proved to be huge for us down the stretch."
In doubles play, the Vikings were able to pick up wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, getting out to the early 1-0 lead. Isabella Spindler and Aleksandra Golawska posted a 6-3 victory at the top of the lineup, while Mathilde Orange and Princess Gbadamosi earned a 6-3 win at the No. 3 spot.
The Vikings quickly added to their lead with a win at No. 3 singles then, as Gbadamosi posted a 6-2, 6-4 victory, marking her second singles win out of the last four matches.
"Princess continued her great play that she has been showing over the last few weeks and got another quick point for us, and then Isabella was able to add to the total with her singles win. Although it was a close match for Isabella, she stayed ahead the entire time and never cracked when it got close," Etzkin said.
Wright State was then able to even the match at 2-2 with wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, before Spindler put the Vikings back on top with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles. Spindler now has six singles wins this spring, with her win Friday marking her first at the No. 2 spot.
The Vikings were then able to clinch the match with a win from Victoria Bensimon at No. 5 singles, as she pulled out a 6-0 6-7 (1), 6-1 three-set victory.
"The final point came from Victoria, who was able to close out her match in three sets – including a convincing win the final set. This was a great mental victory for Victoria today, and I thought the entire team showed great fight up and down the lineup. I'm happy to put a league win in the books and hopefully carry this momentum into tomorrow's match," Etzkin said.
Cleveland State will continue Horizon League play tomorrow (Saturday), hosting Northern Kentucky at 10:00 a.m. Tomorrow's match will take place in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
Cleveland State 4, Wright State 3
Doubles:
1. Golawska/Spindler (CSU) def. Turner/Culbertson (WSU), 6-3
2. Brdicka/Cloern (WSU) def. Bensimon/Nix (CSU), 6-4
3. Orange/Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Madrigal/Madrigal (WSU), 6-3
Singles:
1. Linsey Verstrepen (WSU) def. Mathilde Orange (CSU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0
2. Isabella Spindler (CSU) def. Elaine Cloern (WSU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Taylor Culbertson (WSU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Tori Turner (WSU) def. Aleksandra Golawska (CSU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Victory Bensimon (CSU) def. Vanessa Madrigal (WSU), 6-0, 6-7 (1), 6-1
6. Aby Madrigal (WSU) def. Morgan Nix (CSU), 6-4, 6-4
