April 23, 2011
Contact: Greg Murphy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Playing in the Horizon League Championship match for the first time in school history, the Cleveland State women's tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to UIC on Saturday afternoon at North Central H.S.
The Vikings finish the season at 13-12, while UIC, which won its 15th straight league title, earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
"This was a very special year that we had and unfortunately we couldn't come away with a win today," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "But these girls should be proud of everything they accomplished this year, capped with the first appearance in the league title match in program history.
"I thought we played very hard today and battled a very good UIC team until the end. We were very strong in doubles, but couldn't get that point and I think if we could have gotten the point, the momentum could have swung a little bit. But hats off to UIC for a great match and for winning the title."
UIC took the doubles point with an 8-5 win at the No. 1 slot and an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles. CSU was ahead 8-7 at No. 3 doubles, but the match didn't finish after the Flames clinched the point.
Freshman Alex Bush earned the lone point for the Vikings with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. It was her team-leading 23rd victory of the season, tied for the fifth most in a season in school history.
UIC clinched the title with straight set wins at numbers one, four and six singles.
UIC 4, Cleveland State 1
Apr 23, 2011 at Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central H.S.)
Singles competition
1. KOVALEVA, Mariya (UIC) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 7-5, 6-2
2. BUSH, Alex (CSU) def. TSERTSVADZE, Teona (UIC) 6-1, 6-2
3. CRISTESCU, Ilinca (UIC) vs. Sherwood, Kara (CSU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-3, unfinished
4. SIMONETTI, Elisa (UIC) def. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. KNOPPE, Jana (UIC) vs. Power, Alex (CSU) 6-3, 0-6, 3-0, unfinished
6. HRICISTOVA, Linda (UIC) def. Liu, Mengdi (CSU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. KOVALEVA, Mariya/SIMONETTI, Elisa (UIC) def. BUSH, Alex/POWER, Alex (CSU) 8-5
2. CRISTESCU, Ilinca/TSERTSVADZE, Teona (UIC) def. LAZARIS, Maria/BJERREHUS, Catrine (CSU) 8-6
3. KNOPPE, Jana/HRICISTOVA, Linda (UIC) vs. LIU, Mengdi/SHERWOOD, Kara (CSU) 7-8, unfinished