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Vikings Fall To League-Leader Valparaiso, 7-0

Vikings Fall To League-Leader Valparaiso, 7-0
Posted: Apr 24, 2016

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Cleveland State men's tennis team wrapped up regular season Horizon League play Sunday afternoon, falling to Regular Season Champion Valparaiso, 7-0. The Vikings finish league play with a 2-4 record, and will now await their pairing in the First Round of the Horizon League Tournament (Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1).

"This was a tough loss for us today, we will definitely take some things from this match and work on them throughout the week and prepare for the league tournament next weekend. Congrats to Jim and the Crusaders on their regular season title, they put up a great fight throughout the season," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We were able to win at No. 3 doubles, and we had opportunities at No. 1 doubles, but we just weren't able to close it out. Every match I always ask that we at least have opportunities to win, and that is what we did today. We were able to play some close first sets in singles then, but we just didn't finish them out, and we weren't able to get the momentum on our side today."

The Vikings picked up one win on the day, with Mirko Radosevic and Benajmin Slade teaming up for a 7-6 (4) victory at No. 3 doubles. This duo finished the regular season with a team-best 5-1 record in league play, while they are now 8-3 overall this spring.

Although the Vikings dropped all six singles matches against the Crusaders, Cleveland State had strong showings from Colton Buffington (No. 3), Slade (No. 4), and Kevin Goth (No. 5), as all three forced their first sets to tiebreakers.

Before the Vikings begin their quest for a sixth Horizon League Tournament title, they will have one more tune-up, hosting Baldwin Wallace at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.

Valparaiso 7, Cleveland State 0

Doubles:
1. Schorsch/Emhardt (VALPO) def. VanMeter/Mick (CSU), 7-6 (4)
2. Bacalla/Gardner (VALPO) def. Buffington/Goth (CSU), 6-2
3. Radosevic/Slade (CSU) def. Oakes/Waak (VALPO), 7-6  (4)

Singles:
1. Jeffrey Schorsch (VALPO) def. Joe VanMeter (CSU), 6-3, 6-3
2. Chad Kissell (VALPO) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Dave Bacalla (VALPO) def. Colton Buffington (CSU), 7-6 (2), 6-3
4. Garrett Gardner (VALPO) def. Benjamin Slade (CSU), 7-6 (4), 6-1
5. Michael Savaglio (VALPO) def. Kevin Goth (CSU), 7-6 (3), 6-1
6. Kyle Dunn (VALPO) def. William Malm (CSU), 7-5, 6-3