Vikings Split Final Two Matches on Spring Training Trip

Vikings Split Final Two Matches on Spring Training Trip

March 19, 2011

Final Stats

Contact: Greg Murphy

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Cleveland State women's tennis team split its final two matches of its spring training trip this week, winning 4-3 at Nicholls State on Wednesday before falling at Lamar on Friday, 5-2.

CSU finished 1-2 on the trip, also falling at Louisiana Lafayette to begin the trip.

"I thought this was a very successful trip for us in terms of showing improvement up and down the lineup," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We had some very close matches, but unfortunately were not able to close out some key points or sets and that hurt us in the end.

"If we want to win our conference and go to the NCAA tournament, those are the type of teams we will have to beat and hopefully we will be able to learn from these matches."

Alex Bush was CSU's standout in the final two matches, winning both of her matches at No. 3 singles.

"Alex has been working very hard and is now thinking and competing better on the court," Etzkin said. "She played very disciplined tennis and had to battle back and it was awesome to see her win those two singles matches. She has been on a roll of late and I expect her to keep working hard and playing at a high level."

The Vikings are now out of action until March 26 when CSU opens Horizon League play with a 5:00 p.m. match at Green Bay.

Cleveland State 4, Nicholls 3
3/16/2011 at Thibodaux, La. (Colonel Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. Florina Nosca (NICH) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Natalia Zamora (NICH) def. Sherwood, Kara (CSU) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
3. BUSH, Alex (CSU) def. Tatiana Denezhkina (NICH) 6-0, 6-4
4. Power, Alex (CSU) def. S. Kalyanasundaram (NICH) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) def. Marina Ljoshevska (NICH) 6-2, 7-5
6. Liu, Mengdi (CSU) def. No player (NICH), by forfeit

Doubles competition
1. Florina Nosca/Natalia Zamora (NICH) def. BUSH, Alex/POWER, Alex (CSU) 8-6
2. S. Kalyanasundaram/Marina Ljoshevska (NICH) def. BJERREHUS, Catrine/LAZARIS, Maria (CSU) 8-5
3. SHERWOOD, Kara/LIU, Mengdi (CSU) def. No player/No player (NICH), by forfeit

Lamar 5, Cleveland State 2
Mar 18, 2011 at Beaumont, Texas

Singles competition
1. GUTIERREZ (LAMAR) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 6-0, 6-3
2. HARBUZI (LAMAR) def. Sherwood, Kara (CSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. BUSH, Alex (CSU) def. PORTE (LAMAR) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6
4. Power, Alex (CSU) def. MAYAGOITIA (LAMAR) 6-3, 6-0
5. MENDEZ (LAMAR) def. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) 6-1, 6-0
6. PENNESI (LAMAR) def. Liu, Mengdi (CSU) 2-6, 6-4, 10-8

Doubles competition
1. GUTIERREZ/HARBUZI (LAMAR) d. BUSH, Alex/POWER, Alex (CSU) 8-4
2. MAYAGOITIA/PORTE (LAMAR) def. BJERREHUS, Catrine/LAZARIS, Maria (CSU) 8-5
3. CZUDEK/MENDEZ (LAMAR) def. SHERWOOD, Kara/LIU, Mengdi (CSU) 8-6