SETTING THE SCENE
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. 1 seed in this year's tournament. The Vikings will open the Horizon League Tournament with a semifinal contest against the winner of the No. 4 Milwaukee/No. 5 Northern Kentucky first round matchup, and a win would put them into the championship contest on Sunday, April 28.
COMPLETE CSU NOTES | MATCH-BY-MATCH STATS | #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
CLEVELAND STATE IN THE HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
The Vikings will be trying for their first Horizon League Tournament title this weekend, and will be making their 17th semifinal appearance - including their 13th straight. Cleveland State has advanced to the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament five times in program history, doing so during the 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, and 2023 campaigns.
…VIKINGS AS THE NO. 1 SEED
This marks the fourth time that Cleveland State will be playing as the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Tournament, and the first since the 2022 campaign. When playing as the top seed, the Vikings own a 1-3 record in tournament play, advancing to the championship match during the 2024 campaign.
#HLTENNIS REGULAR SEASON SLATE…
Last time out, the Vikings capped off a 5-1 Horizon League regular season slate with a 6-1 victory at Oakland. This marked Cleveland State's third straight win, as the Vikings enter #HLTennis Tournament play having won seven of their last eight contests.
VICARIO NAMED #HLTENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Earlier this week junior Oihane Vicario picked up major honors from the Horizon League, as she was named the #HLTennis Player of the Year for the second straight season. Vicario, who also earned a spot on the All-League First Team, is one of four league players all-time to pick up Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Vicario has spent the entire 2024 season playing at No. 1 singles, notching a team-best 24-9 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark against league opponents.
…HEREN, VEVERE & YAUCH EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
The trio of Sima Heren, Tereze Vevere and Bethany Yauch also earned All-League honors, with Vevere being named to the First Team and Heren and Yauch earning a spot on the Second Team. This marks the third time that Heren has picked up postseason honors, while Vevere and Yauch are both earning all-league accolades for the second time in their careers.
TRIO OF VIKINGS REACH 60 CAREER WINS
Throughout the season three Vikings reached the 60-win milestone on their careers, including senior Bethany Yauch who enters #HLTennis Tournament play tied for 10th on the CSU Singles Wins List with 69 career wins. Oihane Vicario currently stands at 64 career victories, while Tereze Vevere has 63 career wins. This trio is part of 15 Vikings all-time to reach the 60 win milestone, while Yauch is the first Viking since 2018 to earn a spot on the top-10 all-time wins list.
VEVERE & FRANZ ON CSU DOUBLES WINS LISTS
Earlier this season Tereze Vevere and Ella Franz set a program record for Doubles Wins in a Single-Season, and enter tournament play with a 25-4 record on the year. In addition, Vevere and Franz also rank second on the CSU Doubles Wins List with a 41-8 record as a tandem, standing as one of just two teams all-time to record 40+ wins as a duo.
#HLTENNIS WEEKLY HONORS
Throughout the season the Vikings have been honored by the Horizon League multiple times, picking up seven Singles Player of the Week honors and nine Doubles Team of the Week accolades - with Oihane Vicario leading all league players with five weekly honors and the duos of Vevere/Franz and Vicario/Heren leading all doubles teams with three accolades.
Singles Player of the Week:
Oihane Vicario (1.31/2.21/3.27/4.3/4.17), Sima Heren (2.14), Tereze Vevere (2.28)
Doubles Team of the Week:
Heren/Yauch (1.31), Vevere/Franz (2.14/2.28/3.13), Tounsi/Frogner (2.21),
Heren/Vicario (3.27/4.3/4.24), Tounsi/Yauch (4.17)
HEREN & FRANZ EARN ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS
Last week, Sima Heren and Ella Franz earned spots on the six-member Horizon League All-Academic Team, earning the accolade for the first time in their careers. Heren is currently pursuing a degree in finance with a 3.94 grade point average, while Franz is studying biology with a pre-med focus as part of the CSU Honors College with a 3.89 GPA.
HEAD COACH FRANK POLITO
Frank Polito is in his sixth year at the helm of the Vikings - and his 12th season overall at Cleveland State - owning a 73-54 dual match record. This year, Polito has led the Vikings to a share of the #HLTennis Regular Season Championship - their sixth in program history - and has guided Cleveland State to three Horizon League Championship match appearances during his tenure.
