CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's tennis team will look to stay perfect in Horizon League play this weekend, as the Vikings are set to hit the road for a pair of contests at Oakland (Saturday, April 2) and Detroit (Sunday, April 3).
Saturday, April 2 | @ Oakland | 3:30 p.m.
Bloomfield Tennis and Fitness | 799 Denison Ct. | Bloomfield Twp, Mich. | 48302
Sunday, April 3 | @ Detroit | 4:00 p.m.
Franklin Racquet Club | 29350 Northwestern Hwy | Southfield, Mich. | 48034
Vikings Start League Play With 2-0 Record
For the sixth time under head coach Brian Etkzin the Vikings have opened Horizon League play with a pair of victories, notching a 4-3 win over Wright State and a 6-1 victory over Northern Kentucky last weekend. Cleveland State's best start to league play over the past 13 seasons came during 2011-12 and 2009-10, when the Vikings posted a 4-0 record to begin league play. Entering the weekend, Cleveland State is one of three teams to be undefeated in league play, as Detroit and Youngstown State are also 2-0.
Trio Goes 2-0 In Singles Play On The Weekend
Three Vikings posted perfect 2-0 singles records over the opening weekend of Horizon League play, picking up six of Cleveland State's 10 points against WSU and NKU. Victoria Bensimon notched a 2-0 record at No. 5 singles for the Vikings, while Princess Gbadamosi went 2-0 at the No. 3 spot, and Isabella Spindler picked up a pair of wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.
Orange Closing In On 50 Wins
After picking up a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles against Northern Kentucky, senior Mathilde Orange enters the weekend just two wins shy of notching the 50th singles victory of her career. Orange, who currently has 48 singles wins, would become the 12th Viking all-time to record 50 career singles victories.
Gbadamosi & Bensimon Close Behind
The junior duo of Princess Gbadamosi and Victoria Bensimon are also closing in on 50 career singles victories, as they both enter the weekend with 44 career wins. After starting the spring season with a 0-8 singles record, Gbadamosi has picked up her play as of late, going 3-2 over the last five matches to improve to 9-16 this season. Bensimon has also been on the upswing, posting a matching 3-2 record over the last five matches, standing at 8-16 overall this season.
Vikings In The MMTP
After picking up a pair of wins against Wright State and Northern Kentucky last weekend, the Vikings kept their record perfect in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, improving to 3-0 in their new on-campus home. Cleveland State will return to the MMTP next weekend and put its perfect record on the line against Youngstown State (Friday, April 8).
Vikings Tabbed Fourth In Horizon League Preseason Poll
Earlier this season the Horizon League released its Women's Tennis Preseason Poll, with the Vikings tabbed to finish fourth. Cleveland State finished behind preseason favorite Youngstown State, UIC (2nd) and Detroit (3rd), while Milwaukee (5th), Wright State (6th), Northern Kentucky (7th), Oakland (8th), Valparaiso (9th), and Green Bay (10th) rounded out the poll. This is the fourth year that the league has released a preseason poll, with the Vikings earning a top-four selection in all four polls.
Scouting The Golden Grizzlies
Oakland enters Saturday's contest with an 8-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in league play. Last time out, the Grizzlies picked up a 7-0 win at Green Bay and dropped a 4-3 contest at Milwaukee. Elizabeth Guy (No. 2) and Juliana Guevara (No. 6) are both 2-0 in league play for Oakland this season, while the Grizzlies have also picked up both doubles points in league play.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings own a 13-1 record against the Grizzlies, including a perfect 3-0 mark since the 2013-14 season when Oakland joined the Horizon League.
Scouting The Titans
Detroit enters the weekend with a 3-5 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark in league play, and will face Youngstown State on Saturday. Last weekend, the Titans picked up a 4-3 victory at Milwaukee and a 7-0 sweep at Green Bay. Detroit was able to pick up both doubles points against Milwaukee and Green Bay, while Irina Slizovskaya (No. 3), Viktoria Laskutova (No. 5), and Iris Thioux (No. 6) all went 2-0 in singles play on the weekend.
Cleveland State owns a 12-8 record against Detroit over the last 13 seasons, including a 6-2 record since the 2010-11 season.