April 11, 2012
Contact: Renee Adam
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State women's tennis team will take its five-match win streak on the road this weekend, traveling to UIC and Valparaiso for a pair of Horizon League contests. Cleveland State will first face UIC on Saturday, April 14, before taking on Valparaiso on Sunday, April 15. Saturday's contest is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. EST, while Sunday's match will get underway at 12:00 p.m.
Last weekend the Vikings collected two 6-1 victories over Green Bay and Milwaukee, improving their record to 12-7 overall and 4-0 in league play. CSU is one of just two undefeated teams left in league play, joining UIC who also stands at 4-0 this spring. This marks the second time that CSU has started off with four straight wins in league play under head coach Brian Etzkin, also doing so during the 2009-10 season.
In the victory over Green Bay, Nicole Janek became the eighth Viking all-time to record 50 wins on their career, while Alex Power became the first Viking to notch 20 singles wins this season, leading the team with a 21-11 mark. Janek also reached the 20-win milestone the following day against Milwaukee, currently standing at 20-10 on the year.
Power enters the week with a perfect 4-0 mark in league matches this season, and is one of just five players in the league to be undefeated through the first half of league play (UIC: Haley Craig, Mariya Kovaleva & Elisa Simonetti - YSU: Marta Burak).
Sherwood Named Horizon League Tennis Player Of The Week
Sophomore Kara Sherwood was named the Horizon League Women's Tennis Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon, after posting a 2-0 record at No. 3 singles and a 2-0 record at No. 3 doubles last weekend. Sherwood enters the weekend on a three-match win streak and has won four out of her last five singles matches, owning a 16-13 record this season.
The Opponents
UIC enters the week on a nine-match win streak and currently stands at 11-3 (4-0 HL) this season. The Flames, who have won 137 consecutive league matches, have dropped just one singles match throughout their four league contests this season. Haley Craig leads UIC with a 19-5 overall record this season, while the trio of Jana Knoppe, Elisa Simonetti and Teona Tsertsvadze each have 15 singles wins.
Valparaiso is currently 4-13 on the season and 0-5 in Horizon League action. Entering the weekend the Crusaders are on an eight-match losing skid, with their last victory coming at Biola during the middle of March. Brittany O'Reilly has led Valparaiso throughout their league contests, posting a 2-2 record at No. 6 singles.
Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings own a 6-0 record against Valparaiso, while they have yet to post a victory against UIC as the Flames own a 12-0 mark all-time.
