Women's Tennis Set To Begin #HLWTEN Tournament As No. 2 Seed Athletics

Posted: Apr 26, 2019

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State women's tennis team's quest for its first-ever Horizon League Tournament title will begin on Saturday, April 27, as the Vikings are set to begin play as the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament. The Vikings will open the Horizon League Tournament with a semifinal contest against the winner of No. 3 Oakland/No. 6 Detroit Mercy, and a win would put them into the championship contest on Sunday (April 28).

HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | 2019 #HLWTEN TOURNAMENT BRACKET

***Times listed above are for outdoor matches only. In case of inclement weather, check back to CSUVikings.com for updated match times.***

CLEVELAND STATE IN THE HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

The Vikings will be trying for their first Horizon League Tournament title this weekend, and will be playing as a top-two seed for the seventh time in program history. Overall, the Vikings have appeared in the semifinals 12 times, and have advanced to the championship match three times (2011, 2012, 2014).

…VIKINGS AS THE NO. 2 SEED

This marks the fifth time that Cleveland State will be playing as the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament (2010, 2011, 2012, 2017), and the second time over the last three seasons. The Vikings have advanced to the championship match twice when playing as the second seed (2011, 2012).

LAST TIME OUT…

The Vikings split their matches against IUPUI (W, 7-0) and UIC (L, 4-3) to close out regular season play, finishing their #HLWTEN slate with an 8-1 record to capture a share of the Regular Season title. Last Saturday's loss against the Flames snapped a 10-match winstreak for the Vikings, as Cleveland State enters tournament play having won 10 of their last 11 matches.

VIKINGS TIE PROGRAM RECORD FOR #HLWTEN WINS

Following the 8-1 regular season Horizon League slate, the Vikings tied a program record for league wins in a season, marking the third time that they have recorded eight #HLWTEN victories (2016 & 2017). With the 8-1 record, Cleveland State also clinched a share of the Regular Season crown, marking the fourth time that the Vikings have been regular season champions.

AVRAM NOTCHES PERFECT #HLWTEN SEASON

Throughout five weeks of Horizon League regular season play, junior Kateryna Avram posted a perfect 9-0 singles record, standing as the only player to go undefeated during league play. Avram, who notched all of her league wins at the No. 6 spot, enters the weekend on a 12-match win streak dating back to early March.

…AVRAM ON CSU SINGLE-SEASON WINS LIST

Overall this season, Kateryna Avram leads the Vikings with a 26-8 record, with her 26 wins tying the program record for wins in a season. Avram, who became the 15th Viking to notch a 20-win season with a 6-0, 6-1 decision against Dayton earlier this spring, needs just one more win to set a program record for single-season victories.

VIKINGS STRONG IN DOUBLES PLAY

Entering tournament play, the Vikings have picked up the early doubles point in 11 straight matches, and have gotten off to the early 1-0 lead in all 15 of their wins so far this season. During dual match play only, Kateryna Avram/Lara Prosenjak and Gaby Schoenberg/Siân Payne have posted a team-best eight wins, with Schoenberg and Payne's eight victories all coming against league opponents (8-0).

SPINDLER CLOSING IN ON 60 CAREER WINS

Following a 7-2 regular season league slate at the top of the lineup, senior Isabella Spindler is just one win shy of recording her 60th career victory. Spindler, who enters the Horizon League Tournament with 59 career wins, owns an overall record of 15-14 this season, and would become the 12th Viking all-time to eclipse the 60-win plateau. With her 59 wins that she currently has, Spindler is tied for 12th on the CSU Singles Wins List.

…AND RANKS FOURTH ON CSU DOUBLES WINS LIST

Isabella Spindler is already in the top-10 on the CSU Doubles Wins List, entering tournament play tied for fourth with 65 career doubles wins. Spindler, who became the ninth Viking all-time to reach 60 doubles wins, owns a 12-8 doubles record this spring, including a 6-4 record with Klara Mrcela. The senior also ranks second on the CSU Team Doubles Wins List with Aleksandra Golawska, as the duo posted 39 wins as a tandem throughout their career.

#HLWTEN WEEKLY HONORS

Throughout the season the Vikings have been honored by the Horizon League multiple times, picking up three Singles Player of the Week honors and four Doubles Team of the Week accolades - tied for the league-lead in both categories.

Singles Players of the Week: Isabella Spindler (3.19/4.16) & Lara Prosenjak (4.9)

Doubles Team of the Week: Mrcela/Avram (3.5), Mrcela/Spindler (3.19/3.26) & Payne/Schoenberg (4.16)

HEAD COACH FRANK POLITO

The Vikings have been under the direction of Frank Polito during the 2019 spring season, who is serving in his first year as head coach at Cleveland State, and seventh overall with the Vikings. Polito picked up his first win as the CSU head coach in the 7-0 decision over St. Bonaventure in the season opener, and has since led the Vikings to a 15-win campaign. As an assistant coach, Polito was instrumental in Cleveland State's 2016 and 2017 Horizon League Regular Season titles.