CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's tennis team will host its final homestand of the spring season this weekend, hosting Oakland and Detroit Mercy in a pair of Horizon League matches at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
Saturday, April 8 | Oakland | 2:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
Sunday, April 9 | Detroit Mercy | 2:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | 2005 Chester Ave. | Cleveland, Ohio | 44114
Follow Along Live!
Fans that are unable to attend this weekend's matches against Oakland and Detroit Mercy will still be able to follow along live, with Live Results available via the women's tennis schedule page on CSUVikings.com.
Senior Weekend
This weekend marks the final homestand for the senior duo of Victoria Bensimon and Princess Gbadamosi, as the Vikings will honor the pair at a Friends, Family and Alumni Banquet prior to this weekend's matches. During their careers, Bensimon and Gbadamosi have led the Vikings to a pair of Horizon League Regular Season Championships, and are both ranked in the top-10 on the CSU Singles Wins List.
Last Time Out…
Cleveland State remained perfect in Horizon League play last weekend, picking up back-to-back 4-3 victories at Northern Kentucky and Wright State. This marks the fourth time that the Vikings have started Horizon League play with a 4-0 record under head coach Brian Etzkin, while last weekend's wins also extended Cleveland State's current winstreak to five straight matches. The Vikings are one of three league teams to be undefeated in #HLWTEN play this season, and now own a 24-5 record in Horizon League regular season matches over the last four years.
Bensimon & Schober Named Horizon League Doubles Team Of The Week
After going 2-0 at No. 1 doubles en route to securing both doubles points against NKU and WSU last weekend, the tandem of Victoria Bensimon and Jana Schober was named Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week. Bensimon and Schober picked up a 6-4 win against the Norse and then followed that up with a 6-1 victory against the Raiders. This marked the third weekly honor for the duo this season, making Bensimon and Schober the only doubles team in the league to earn three weekly accolades.
Closing In On Win #50
After splitting her matches at No. 3 singles against NKU and WSU last weekend, junior Aleksandra Golawska enters the weekend just two wins shy of marking the 50th singles victory of her career. Golawska, who owns a 14-11 singles record this season, would become the 14th Viking all-time to reach the 50-win milestone. Golawska would also join teammates Victoria Bensimon and Princess Gbadamosi in the exclusive 50-win club.
Bensimon Moves Up CSU Singles Wins List
Senior Victoria Bensimon became the seventh Viking all-time to eclipse the 70-win mark last weekend, going 2-0 at No. 2 singles to finish the weekend with 71 career singles wins. Entering this weekend's matches Bensimon is tied for fourth on the CSU Singles Wins List, needing one more win to move into third place and three more wins to move into second place on the list.
…And Continues HL Singles Winstreak
With her two wins at Northern Kentucky and Wright State last weekend, Victoria Bensimon extended her Horizon League regular season singles winstreak to 17 straight matches. Bensimon, who owns a 25-2 record against league opponents (regular season matches only), hasn't lost a match since April 3, 2015. During her career, Bensimon has posted perfect Horizon League regular season records as a junior (9-0) and freshman (6-0), and is currently 4-0 this season.
Gbadamosi On CSU Singles & Doubles Wins List
Princess Gbadamosi enters the weekend ranked in the top-10 on both the CSU Singles Wins List and the CSU Doubles Wins List – ranked eighth with 65 career singles wins and tied for 10th with 54 career doubles victories. Last weekend, Gbadamosi split her matches at No. 4 singles against NKU and WSU, while she also split her No. 2 doubles contests with partner Isabella Spindler.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion
For the second straight year – and first complete year – the Vikings are calling the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion home. The MMTP, which opened March 9, 2016, features six temperature-controlled indoor courts. With the opening of the MMTP, Cleveland State became the first Horizon League team to have an on-campus indoor facility.
…Vikings In The MMTP
So far this season the Vikings own a 7-1 record when playing in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, picking up a pair of victories over UIC and Valparaiso in their last homestand. Overall, Cleveland State owns a 14-2 record in the MMTP, including a 6-1 record against Horizon League opponents.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 15th year with the Vikings, owning a 195-183 dual match record. During his tenure, Etzkin has guided Cleveland State to a pair of Horizon League Regular Season titles (2014 & 2016), and three Horizon League Championship Match appearances. With just five more dual match victories, Etzkin will become the second active Horizon League women's coach with 200 wins on their career.
Scouting The Grizzlies
Oakland enters the weekend with a 6-7 overall record this spring and a 2-0 mark against Horizon League opponents. The Grizzlies, who were selected to finish seventh in the preseason poll, have notched wins against Green Bay (6-1) and Milwaukee (4-3) so far this season, and enter the weekend as one of three league teams to be undefeated in #HLWTEN play.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings own a 14-1 record against Oakland.
Scouting The Titans
Entering the weekend, Detroit owns a 6-8 overall record this season, and stands at 2-0 in Horizon League play. The Titans, who were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll, notched victories over Milwaukee (6-1) and Green Bay (4-0) to begin league play and will take on Youngstown State prior to Sunday's contest against the Vikings.
This will be the 23rd meeting between the two teams over the last 15 seasons, with Cleveland State owning a 13-9 record in the overall series.
