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Vikings Continue Spring Season With 6-1 Victory Over Ball State

Vikings Continue Spring Season With 6-1 Victory Over Ball State
Posted: Jan 30, 2015

CLEVELAND, Ohio – For just the second time under head coach Brian Etzkin the Cleveland State men's tennis team is now 3-0 to start the season after picking up a 6-1 victory against Ball State Friday evening.

"I thought this was a good match for us against a strong team in Ball State. We had a great home crowd supporting us tonight and we really thrived off of that and picked up some great energy," Etzkin said. "We came out really sharp in doubles and we were able to get out to a big lead at No. 2 to give ourselves a little cushion. I thought picking up the doubles point was key to our win today."

The Vikings quickly got out to a 1-0 lead after picking up the doubles point with wins at No.2 and No. 3 doubles. Manuel Bellutti and Mirko Radosevic picked up a 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles, while Joe VanMeter and Nolan Marks earned a 6-3 win at the No. 3 spot.

"After getting out to a quick start in doubles, we were able to carry the momentum into singles, picking up five first sets. We were able to play from ahead on most of the courts and put ourselves into a position to do well," Etzkin said.

Cleveland State then got out to another quick start in singles play, as the Vikings rattled off five straight singles wins to clinch the victory. The quartet of Bellutti, VanMeter, Jorg van der Vloet, and Ali Shabib kept their singles records perfect on the spring season Friday evening, as all four now have 3-0 records in singles action.

VanMeter posted a 6-2, 7-5 victory at the top of the singles lineup, while Bellutti notched a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles – each marking their 10th singles wins of the season. van der Vloet pulled out a three-set win at No. 2 singles (4-6, 6-3, 6-3), while Shabib earned a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory at the No. 3 spot.

The final point of the night came from Colton Buffington at No. 5 singles, as he picked up a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Cleveland State will continue the spring season next weekend, hosting Buffalo (Saturday, Feb. 7) and St. Bonaventure (Sunday, Feb. 8).

Cleveland State 6, Ball State 1

Doubles:

  1. Shabib/Buffington (CSU) vs. Elliott/Andersen (BSU), 4-5, unf
  2. Bellutti/Radosevic (CSU) def. Leonard/Stutz (BSU), 6-2
  3. VanMeter/Marks (CSU) def. Rigney/Helm (BSU), 6-3

Singles:

  1. Joe VanMeter (CSU) def. Patrick Elliott (BSU), 6-2, 7-5
  2. Jorg van der Vloet (CSU) def. Lucas Andersen (BSU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
  3. Ali Shabib (CSU) def. Ray Leonard (BSU), 7-6 (5), 6-4
  4. Manuel Bellutti (CSU) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU), 6-2, 6-4
  5. Colton Buffington (CSU) def. Jan Jirus (BSU), 7-5, 6-4
  6. Collin Rigney (BSU) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9

Order of Finish

Doubles: 2, 3
Singles: 4, 1, 5, 3, 2, 6