March 31, 2012
Contact: Renee Adam
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State women's tennis team extended its win streak to three matches Saturday afternoon, posting a 5-2 victory over Youngstown State. With the win the Vikings improve to 10-7 overall and 2-0 in the Horizon League, while the Penguins fall to 0-12 (0-2).
"It was good to get another league win today and stay at the top of the league standings," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Although Youngstown State was a depleted team today, I'm sure they will improve quickly and be a very competitive team. The depth of our lineup really showed today, picking up wins at the 3, 4, 5 and 6 spots."
With a shortened roster, the Penguins were forced to forfeit No. 3 doubles, and the No. 2 team of Nicole Janek and Maria Lazaris picked up an 8-2 win to give CSU the doubles point. Janek and Lazaris have now won four of their last five doubles matches and currently hold a 6-2 record during the spring.
"It was good to see Nicole and Maria pick up the win at No. 2 doubles, they were definitely playing more aggressive today than they have been in the past," Etzkin said.
The Vikings held a 2-0 advantage at the start of singles play, with Mengdi Liu claiming the point at No. 6 singles by default. Cleveland State then rattled off three straight singles wins at the No. 5, 4 and 3 positions to claim the victory.
Alex Power and Janek both cruised to 6-0, 6-0 wins at No. 5 and No. 4 singles respectively, while Kara Sherwood earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3. Power's straight set victory marked her 19th of the season, as she is closing in on her first 20-win season. Janek's victory at No. 4 singles marked the 49th of her career as she is now one win shy of becoming the seventh Viking to post 50 career victories.
"Earlier in the season Nicole struggled against the YSU player that she faced today, so it was great to see her turn it around and get the convincing victory," Etzkin said.
The Vikings will stay at home next weekend, hosting Green Bay and Milwaukee in a pair of Horizon League contests. CSU will host Green Bay at 7:00 p.m. on Friday (April 6) and Milwaukee at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday (April 7).
Cleveland State 5, Youngstown State 2
Doubles:
1. Burak/Jesko (YSU) def. Bjerrehus/Power (CSU), 8-6
2. Janek/Lazaris (CSU) def. Hankle/Puppo (YSU), 8-2
3. Liu/Sherwood (CSU) won by default
Singles:
1. Marta Burak (YSU) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 5-7, 7-5, 10-6
2. Lauren Hankle (YSU) def. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Sherwood, Kara (CSU) def. Carolyn Jesko (YSU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Janek, Nicole (CSU) def. Gimena Puppo (YSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Power, Alex (CSU) def. Jennifer Moore (YSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Liu, Mengdi (CSU) def. No player (YSU), by default
