April 24, 2010
Contact: Greg Murphy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State's magical season concluded on Saturday afternoon when the second-seeded Vikings fell to third-seeded Detroit, 4-1, in the Horizon League semifinals at the Butler Bubble.
The Vikings, who finished a program-best second place in the regular season, conclude the year with a 15-12 mark. UDM moves on to the league title match and will face UIC for the championship on Sunday.
The Flames will be after their 14th straight title.
"We had an opportunity to take a huge step and get to the next level today, but just didn't get it done," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We had a lot of great battles and great tennis today, but they were just the better team today and won a lot of key points.
"It's a disappointing way for us to end the season because we had high hopes of playing in the championship, but it doesn't take away from the things we accomplished as a program this year. We have a young team with a lot of underclassmen who grew up all year."
Today's match was the final one for senior Charlotte Gibbons, who yesterday was selected to the All-Horizon League second team for the third time in her career. Gibbons teamed with Catrine Bjerrehus to win 8-5 at No. 1 doubles, but UDM won the other two doubles contests to earn the doubles point.
"We really wanted to get this done for Charlotte because she has put so much into the program," Etzkin said. "She had a wonderful career at Cleveland State and helped this program advance in so many ways. We are going to miss her leadership both on and off the court."
Freshman Maria Lazaris was the lone Viking to win a singles match, claiming a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles over Amanda Cornwell. It was her team-leading 22nd win of the season.
Detroit got three set wins at No. 1, 3 and 4 singles to clinch the victory.
Detroit 4, Cleveland State 1
Apr 24, 2010 at Indianapolis, Ind. (Butler Bubble)
Singles competition
1. SALAS-ESPINOSA, Caro (UDM) def. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
2. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) def. CORNWELL, Amanda (UDM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Sjoberg-Sundstrom, S (UDM) def. Gibbons, Charlotte (CSU) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. FLANKOVA, Svetlana (UDM) def. Janek, Nicole (CSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
5. Bjelan, Sanda (CSU) vs. WELDON, Erin (UDM) 5-2, unfinished
6. Liu, Mengdi (CSU) vs. CAPUANO, Melanie (UDM) 4-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. BJERREHUS, Catrine/GIBBONS, Charlotte (CSU) def. CORNWELL, Amanda/SALAS-ESPINOSA, Caro (UDM) 8-5
2. Sjoberg-Sundstrom, S/FLANKOVA, Svetlana (UDM) def. LAZARIS, Maria/JANEK, Nicole (CSU) 8-4
3. CAPUANO, Melanie/WELDON, Erin (UDM) def. BJELAN, Sanda/LIU, Mengdi (CSU) 9-8 (7-3)
