CLEVELAND, Ohio – Following a 6-1 victory over Detroit Mercy Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland State women's tennis team is off to its best start in Horizon League play under head coach Brian Etzkin, improving to 12-8 overall and 6-0 in league action. Sunday's victory also extended the Vikings' current winstreak, as they have now captured seven straight match victories.
"This was a good solid team match for us today, the entire team was focused and determined throughout the entire match," associate head coach Frank Polito said. "We continued our momentum in doubles play today and picked up some great wins to start the match. Now we need to turn our focus to Youngstown State and put in a good week of work in practice and close out the regular season strong."
Cleveland State got out to an early 1-0 advantage for the fifth time in Horizon League play Sunday, picking up the doubles point with matching 6-2 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. Victoria Bensimon and Jana Schober combined for the win at the top of the lineup, while Aleksandra Golawska and Blanche Lenoan teamed up for the win at No. 3 doubles.
Bensimon was the first player done on the singles court then, as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 2 spot. Bensimon improved her Horizon League record to 6-0 this season, while she also owns a team-best 19-12 overall singles mark. The win also put her in sole possession of third place on the CSU Singles Wins List, as she now has 73 career singles victories.
Bensimon now stands at 27-2 against league opponents in regular season matches, and has won 19 straight league singles matches.
The Vikings then gained a 3-0 lead following a 6-2, 6-1 victory from Lenoan at No. 6 singles, as she improved to 5-1 against league opponents this season. Sunday's victory over Detroit marked Lenoan's third straight victory and put her at 11-9 this spring.
The clinching point of the match came at No. 5 singles, with Schober earning a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Cleveland State added to its lead with a victory at No. 3 singles then, with Golawska notching her 50th career victory in a 6-3, 6-2 decision. With the win, Golawska became the 14th Viking all-time to record 50 career singles wins and improved to 5-1 in league action this season.
Despite Detroit Mercy picking up a win at the top of the singles lineup, the Vikings responded with a victory from Princess Gbadamosi at No. 4 singles to put the final match score at 6-1. Gbadamosi earned a 7-5, 7-6 (5) win against the Titans, marking the 67th victory of her career. She now stands at 5-1 against league opponents this season, and owns an 11-8 record this spring.
Cleveland State will now return to the road for the final three matches of the regular season, beginning with a contest at Youngstown State on Saturday, April 15.
Cleveland State 6, Detroit Mercy 1
Doubles
1. Bensimon/Schober (CSU) def. Maitrot/Thioux (UDM), 6-2
2. Spindler/Gbadamosi (CSU) vs. Van Der Goot/Davydova (UDM), 2-5, unf.
3. Golawska/Lenoan (CSU) def. Providokhina/Mitrakovic (UDM), 6-2
Singles
1. Anna Davydova (UDM) def. Isabella Spindler (CSU), 7-5, 6-4
2. Victoria Bensimon (CSU) def. Marie Maitrot (UDM), 6-2, 6-2
3. Aleksandra Golawska (CSU) def. Iris Thioux (UDM), 6-3, 6-2
4. Princess Gbadamosi (CSU) def. Nynke Van Der Goot (UDM), 7-5, 7-6 (5)
5. Jana Schober (CSU) def. Pauline Van Herck (UDM), 6-3, 6-2
6. Blanche Lenoan (CSU) def. Ksenia Providokhina (UDM), 6-2, 6-1