MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Cleveland State men's tennis team got back on the winning track Tuesday afternoon, closing out its Spring Break Trip with a 5-2 victory at Florida Tech.
Tuesday's victory over the Panthers marked the first outdoor victory for the Vikings, and gave Cleveland State 10 wins for the season, marking the 13th straight season that CSU has posted double-digit team wins.
"We were able to come away with a victory over a scrappy Florida Tech team today, closing out our spring break trip on a high note," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We handled doubles well and continued our strong doubles play. We were able to carry that momentum into singles action, and although there were a few touchy moments, we were able to get through most of them and pull out the win. This was the hottest day we have had down here, and there was even a bit of wind, so I'm glad we were able to play in these conditions and be used to it when it comes up later this spring."
Cleveland State got off to a strong start, sweeping all three doubles contests with matching 6-2 victories. This marked the 11th time that the Vikings have picked up the doubles point this season, and the fourth time that they have swept all three doubles matches.
At the top of the doubles lineup Joe VanMeter and Andre Mick picked up their team-best eighth win of the spring, while Colton Buffington and Kevin Goth won their third straight doubles match at the No. 2 spot and Mirko Radosevic and William Malm kept their record perfect this spring (3-0) with a win at No. 3 doubles.
Cleveland State carried this momentum into singles play then, as the Vikings picked up wins at No. 6, No. 3 and No. 5 singles to clinch the match. Mick posted the first singles win of the day with a 6-2, 6-1 decision at the No. 6 spot, while Radosevic earned a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles and Benjamin Slade posted a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles.
Slade, who has now won seven of his last nine singles matches, improved to 17-11 this season and 10-7 this spring - the first Viking to reach double-digit singles wins during dual match play.
Cleveland State's final singles victory came at the No. 4 spot, as Goth earned a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory, snapping a three-match personal losing streak.
The Vikings will now return home to begin Horizon League play next weekend, hosting Wright State (Friday, March 25) and Northern Kentucky (Saturday, March 26).
Cleveland State 5, Florida Tech 2
Doubles:
1. VanMeter/Mick (CSU) def. Martinez/Louisy (FT), 6-2
2. Buffington/Goth (CSU) def. Schmidt/Shapovalov (FT), 6-2
3. Radosevic/Malm (CSU) def. Tego/Burch (FT), 6-2
Singles:
1. Aria Canadell Solana (FT) def. Joe VanMeter (CSU), 6-4, 6-4
2. Ricardo Corona (FT) def. Colton Buffington (CSU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
3. Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. JJ Clark (FT), 6-3, 6-0
4. Kevin Goth (CSU) def. Jose Martinez (FT), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
5. Benjamin Slade (CSU) def. Gerard Carpinell (FT), 6-3, 6-4
6. Andre Mick (CSU) def. Foresight Okungbowa (FT), 6-2, 6-1
