CLEVELAND, Ohio – After finishing the regular season with a 4-2 mark against Horizon League opponents, the Cleveland State men's tennis team has earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Horizon League Tournament and will begin play on Friday, April 24. In their first round contest the Vikings will go up against sixth-seeded Detroit, with the winner advancing to the semifinals on Saturday, April 25. The two semifinal winners will then face off in the 2015 Horizon League Championship match on Sunday, April 26.
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET | CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM
2015 HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Purdue University Tennis Center | 1324 McCormick Rd. | West Lafayette, Ind. | 47906
Friday, April 24 | First Round | 11:00 a.m.
No. 3 Cleveland State vs. No. 6 Detroit | No. 4 Youngstown State vs. No. 5 UIC
Saturday, April 25 | Semifinals | 11:00 a.m.
No. 1 Green Bay vs. TBA | No. 2 Valparaiso vs. TBA
Sunday, April 26 | Championship | 11:00 a.m.
Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner
Follow The Action | Fans that are unable to attend the Horizon League Tournament will be able to follow the action online, with live results and live video available on the men's tennis schedule page at CSUVikings.com
Weather Update | The match times for the Horizon League Tournament are based off of playing all matches outside, if the weather does not cooperate and the matches are moved inside, the schedule will be adjusted. Make sure to check CSUVikings.com for the most up-to-date match times and locations.
2014-15 MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS | 2014-15 SEASON STATISTICS
Cleveland State In The Horizon League Tournament
The Vikings will be chasing their sixth Horizon League title this weekend, as they have been one of the top teams in the field over the last seven years, winning five championships during this span (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013). This marks the eighth time out of the last nine years that CSU enters the tournament as a top-three seed, and will be trying to advance to the championship match for the eighth straight time. Under head coach Brian Etzkin, the Vikings are 19-7 in Horizon League Tournament matches.
Vikings Enter Horizon League Tournament On Hot Streak
Entering the Horizon League Tournament, the Vikings have won 11 of their last 13 contests, including three straight over the last two weeks. At one point during this stretch, Cleveland State won seven straight matches, marking the fourth longest winstreak over the past 12 seasons. Under head coach Brian Etzkin the Vikings have won six or more consecutive matches nine times.
Career Singles Wins List
Entering the Horizon League Tournament three Vikings rank in the top-10 on the CSU career singles wins list, led by Ali Shabib who ranks seventh with 62 career victories. Jorg van der Vloet ranks eighth sitting right behind Shabib with 60 career victories, while Joe VanMeter is tied for ninth with 58 career wins. Two Vikings are also just shy of the top-10, as Manuel Bellutti ranks 12th with 48 wins on his career and Nolan Marks ranks 13th with 47 career victories.
van der Vloet Notches 60th Career Win
After going 2-0 at No. 2 singles last weekend, Jorg van der Vloet became just the eighth Viking all-time to notch 60 career singles victories. van der Vloet, who stands at 15-8 this spring, joins classmate Ali Shabib in the 60-win club. So far this season van der Vloet has played throughout the top half of the singles lineup, and owns a perfect 6-0 record when playing at the No. 3 spot.
Multiple Vikings With 20-Win Campaigns
For the seventh time under head coach Brian Etzkin multiple Vikings have notched 20-win campaigns in the same season, as Joe VanMeter (22-13) joined Manuel Bellutti (23-8) in the 20-win club earlier this season. Both VanMeter and Bellutti have now notched 20-win seasons in back-to-back years – becoming the sixth and seventh Vikings to record at least 20 wins in multiple seasons throughout their careers.
Bellutti Closing In On 50 Career Wins
Playing in just his second season as a Viking, senior Manuel Bellutti is closing in on 50 career singles wins, entering the weekend with a 48-17 record on his career. Bellutti, who has a team-best 23-8 singles record this season, would become the 12th Viking all-time to notch 50 career singles wins and the fourth to do so this season. Bellutti would also become the first Viking to reach 50 career wins in just two seasons of play.
