Sept. 7, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
PEORIA, Ill. -- Cleveland State won five of its seven singles matches, including a straight-set victory by freshman Melissa Holzinger in the "A" Flight and three straight set victories in the "B" Flight on the opening day of the Bradley Fall Invitational.
"We had a pretty good start to our season," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "If we can win five of seven matches every day, then we will be able to meet our goal of winning a conference championship.
"It was an exciting day for us because we had a pair of freshman (Holzinger & Sanda Bjelan) earn their first collegiate victories and our depth really showed when you consider that all three of our players in the "B" flight won their matches in straight sets, including a really gutsy super tie-breaker win by Lindsay Sellers.
"More importantly, the team chemistry right now is outstanding and that is something that will be really important as the season goes on."
Sophomore Denisa Muntean and reshmen Jackie Tabb and Holzinger represented the Vikings in the "A" Flight with Holzinger, a native Dallas, Texas, dominating Northern Illinois' Jenny Edner, 6-2, 6-1. Tabb dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Milwaukee's Kelly Drvaric, who was a second team All-Horizon League selection last year, while Muntean lost in straight sets to Bradley's Emily Regenold, 6-1, 6-4.
The Vikings dominated the "B" Flight as senior Lindsay Sellers fought back after dropping the first set to claim a 4-6, 6-4, 13-11 decision in a super-tiebreaker. At the same time, freshman Sanda Bjelan won in straight sets over Bradley's Erin Krubeck, 6-4, 6-1 and Jenn Myers claimed a 6-4, 6-2 decision over NIU's Brooker Forsberg
Christine Vogelgesang was the lone Viking entry in the "C" Flight, dominating Chicago State's Jennifer Morris, 6-1, 6-0.
Play continues in the three-day tourney on Saturday. Each of the six participating teams will play a morning singles match, followed by a pair of doubles contests. Play will conclude in the evening with a second singles contest. The final day of competition will include both a singles and doubles round for each team.
First Day Results
Flight "A"
Melissa Holzinger (CSU) def. Jenny Edner (Northern Illinois), 6-2, 6-1
Kelly Drvaric (Milwaukee) def. Jackie Tabb (CSU), 6-3, 6-1
Emily Regenold (Bradley) def. Denisa Muntean (CSU), 6-1, 6-4
Flight "B"
Lindsay Sellers (CSU) def. Kim Braun (Bradley), 4-6, 6-4, 13-11
Jenn Myers (CSU) def. Brooke Forsberg (NIU), 6-4, 6-2
Sanda Bjelan (CSU) def. Erin Krubeck (Bradley), 6-4, 6-1
Flight "C"
Christine Vogelgesang (CSU) def. Jennifer Morris (Chicago State), 6-1, 6-0