SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Cleveland State men's tennis team got back on the winning track Sunday afternoon, picking up a hard-fought 4-3 victory at Detroit. Sunday's victory marked the first in Horizon League play for the Vikings this season, as they now stand at 11-8 overall and 1-1 in league play.
"This was a good team effort for us today, we had contributions from everyone in either singles or doubles and it definitely took everything we had to get by a tough Detroit team," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "The doubles point ended up being huge again today, and it was good to get the first point and the momentum that goes along with it. Andre and Kevin both picked up the first league victories of their careers today, and Kevin being able to pick up his first win as the clinching point is pretty awesome. This young team is getting some great experience so far this season, and it is good to see them battle and come out on top. Hopefully this will give us a little boost and help carry us through the last few weeks of regular season play."
For the second time in league play this season the Vikings were able to get out to the early 1-0 lead, as they picked up the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. At the top of the lineup, Joe VanMeter and Andre Mick battled for a 7-6 (3) victory, improving to 12-6 overall this year and 9-5 at the No. 1 spot this spring. The No. 3 doubles tandem of Mirko Radosevic and Benjamin Slade then clinched the doubles point for Cleveland State, picking up a 7-5 victory, improving to 5-2 during dual match play.
The Vikings then struggled during the start of singles play, as Detroit picked up two quick points with wins at the top two singles spots, before Colton Buffington was able to even the match at 2-2 with a win at No. 3 singles. Buffington earned a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory at the No. 3 spot, marking his first league singles win this spring and his seventh singles win overall.
The Titans answered with a win at No. 5 singles then, putting the match score at 3-2, forcing the Vikings to pick up wins on the two remaining singles courts to earn the victory.
Mick was the first Viking to respond, notching a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles, tying the match at 3-3 with the deciding point coming down to the No. 4 singles court. Mick's win marked his 15th of the season, while he is now 8-8 in singles play this spring.
Kevin Goth then clinched the match for the Vikings at the No. 4 spot, battling for a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 three-set victory. Goth now has 12 singles wins this season, and stands at 9-8 this spring.
Cleveland State will return home next weekend and continue Horizon League play against Youngstown State, as the Vikings will host the Penguins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8 at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
Cleveland State 4, Detroit 3
Doubles:
1. VanMeter/Mick (CSU) def. Koscielski/Solarewicz (UDM), 7-6 (3)
2. Ponton/Kadyrov (UDM) def. Buffington/Goth (CSU), 6-4
3. Radosevic/Slade (CSU) def. Conley/Mertz (UDM), 7-5
Singles:
1. Patryk Koscielski (UDM) def. Joe VanMeter (CSU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Nathan Ponton (UDM) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 6-2, 6-0
3. Colton Buffington (CSU) def. Nicholas Solarewicz (UDM), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
4. Kevin Goth (CSU) def. Ismail Kadyrov (UDM), 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
5. Adam Zychowicz (UDM) def. Benjamin Slade (CSU), 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
6. Andre Mick (CSU) def. Griffin Mertz (UDM), 7-6 (5), 6-4
