CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's tennis team will look to extend its seven-match winstreak this weekend, traveling to Youngstown State for the lone matchup of the week.
Saturday, April 15 | @ Youngstown State | 6:00 p.m.
Boardman Tennis Center | 1223 W. Western Reserve Road | Youngstown, Ohio | 44514
The Final Stretch
With only two weeks left in the regular season, the Vikings will have to be road warriors during the final three matches, as Cleveland State will play a three-match roadswing to close out the final stretch. The Vikings have struggled on the road this season, owning a 3-7 record when playing away from home, but during league contests only the Vikings own a perfect 2-0 mark.
Last Time Out…
Cleveland State hosted its final homestand in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion last weekend, picking up back-to-back 6-1 victories over Oakland and Detroit Mercy. With the two wins, the Vikings finish the year with a 9-1 record in the MMTP, including a perfect 4-0 mark against league opponents. Sunday's victory over the Titans extended Cleveland State's current winstreak to seven straight matches – a mark that is tied for the longest winstreak under head coach Brian Etzkin.
Vikings Remain Perfect In #HLWTEN Play
With the two wins last weekend, Cleveland State remained perfect in Horizon League play this season, owning a 6-0 record after the first three weeks of league action. The 6-0 record marks the best start to league play for the Vikings over the last 15 seasons, and it makes the Vikings the only team to still be undefeated in league play this year. Cleveland State now owns a 26-5 record in Horizon League regular season matches over the last four years.
Golawska Notches Win #50
After picking up back-to-back wins at No. 3 singles against Oakland and Detroit Mercy last weekend, junior Aleksandra Golawska notched the 50th singles win of her career. Golawska, who became the 14th Viking all-time to reach the 50-win milestone, joins teammates Victoria Bensimon and Princess Gbadamosi in the exclusive club. For the season, Golawska owns a 16-11 overall record, while she stands at 5-1 against league opponents.
Bensimon Moves Up CSU Singles Wins List…Again
Senior Victoria Bensimon continued her rise up the CSU Singles Wins List last weekend, moving into third place on the list with 73 career singles victories. Bensimon, who went 2-0 at No. 2 singles against Oakland and Detroit Mercy, now owns a team-best 19-12 record this season. Bensimon needs just one more win to move into second place on the list, and two more wins to become just the second Viking all-time to record 75 career victories (Sarah Galon; 79 career wins).
…And Continues HL Singles Winstreak
With her two wins against the Grizzlies and the Titans last weekend, Victoria Bensimon extended her Horizon League regular season singles winstreak to 19 straight matches. Bensimon, who owns a 27-2 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 6-0 this season – one of four league players to be undefeated.
Lenoan Making Most Of Rookie Campaign
Freshman Blanche Lenoan has had a successful freshman season for the Vikings, owning a 16-14 overall record and a 5-1 mark in league matches. Lenoan, who has played the majority of the spring season at No. 6 singles, has won three straight matches and eight of her last 10, including Cleveland State's clinching point in the league-opener against UIC.
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 67 career singles wins and tied for ninth with 55 career doubles victories. Last time out, Gbadamosi picked up back-to-back wins against Oakland and Detroit Mercy at No. 4 singles, while she went 1-0 at No. 2 doubles on the weekend.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 15th year with the Vikings, owning a 197-183 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 three more dual match victories, Etzkin will become the second active Horizon League women's coach with 200 wins on their career.
Scouting The Penguins
Youngstown State enters Saturday's match with an 11-8 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in league play. The Penguins, who currently sit in second place in the Horizon League, have won five straight matches and seven of their last nine. YSU was selected as the preseason favorite earlier this season, while the Penguins have captured the last three Horizon League Tournament titles.
This will be the 19th meeting between the two teams, with Youngstown State owning an 11-7 record in the overall series.
