CLEVELAND, Ohio – After capturing the program's second Regular Season Horizon League title last weekend, top-seeded Cleveland State is set for the 2016 Horizon League Tournament. The Vikings, who will be playing as the No. 1 seed in this weekend's championship, will begin play in the semifinals on Saturday, April 30.
2016 HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT BRACKET | CLEVELAND STATE MATCH-BY-MATCH STATS
Horizon League Semifinals
Saturday, April 30 | vs. TBA | 11:00 a.m.
Varsity Tennis Center | 2250 S. State St. | Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104
Horizon League Championship
Sunday, May 1 | vs. TBA | 11:00 a.m.
Varsity Tennis Center | 2250 S. State St. | Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104
***All times listed above are for outdoor matches only. In case of inclement weather, check back to CSUVikings.com for updated indoor match times.***
Follow The Vikings Live!
Viking fans that are unable to attend the 2016 Horizon League Tournament will still be able to follow the action live, as Live Scoring and Live Video will be available for all rounds of the championships. Links for both can be found on the women's tennis schedule page at CSUVikings.com.
Regular Season Champions!!
Following a 4-3 victory at UIC and a 7-0 sweep at Valparaiso last weekend the Vikings captured the 2016 Horizon League Regular Season title. This marks the second regular season title in program history (2014), and the second over the last three seasons. Cleveland State finished the season with an 8-1 record against league opponents, marking a program record for league wins in a season.
Entering The Horizon League Tournament
Along with earning the Regular Season crown, the Vikings also clinched the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament, earning a bye into the semifinals. Cleveland State enters the championship on a mini three-match winstreak, and has won 10 of its last 11 matches.
Vikings In The Horizon League Tournament
Cleveland State will be trying for its first Horizon League Tournament title this weekend, and will be playing as the top seed for the second time (2014). Under head coach Brian Etzkin, the Vikings have earned a spot in the semifinals eight times (including this year) and have made an appearance in the championship match three times (2011, 2012, 2014).
Trio Of Vikings Join 50-Win Club
Over the course of the spring season three Vikings have earned a spot in the 50-win club, as Mathilde Orange, Victoria Bensimon and Princess Gbadamosi have all reached the 50-win milestone. They were the 12th, 13th, and 14th Vikings, respectively, to achieve the feat and the first to do so since the 2013-14 season.
Orange Closing In On Singles Wins List
Entering the Horizon League Tournament, senior Mathide Orange is just one win shy of cracking the top-10 on the CSU Singles Wins list. Orange, who currently has 54 career singles victories, stands at 15-19 overall this season playing in the top half of the lineup.
Bensimon Finishes Regular Season With Perfect League Record
For the first time since 2012, the Vikings had a player post a perfect league singles record, as junior Victoria Bensimon went 9-0 against league opponents this season. Bensimon, who is 21-2 against league opponents in her career, played throughout the middle of the lineup this spring and enters the Horizon League Tournament on an 11-match winstreak.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Head coach Brian Etzkin is in his 14th year with the Vikings, owning a 186-174 dual match record during his tenure. Etzkin, who has led the Vikings to a pair of Horizon League Regular Season titles, is the all-time winningest coach in program history and is a three-time Horizon League Coach of the Year (2004, 2011, 2014).