CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will return to action with a trio of matches this week, traveling to Penn State on Thursday, January 30 and hosting Butler and St. Francis (PA) on Saturday, February 1.
MATCH #3
Cleveland State at Penn State | Thursday, January 30 | 6:00 p.m.
Indoor Tennis Center | University Park, Pa.
Live Stats (password: psutennis)
MATCH #4
Cleveland State vs. Butler | Saturday, February 1 | 11:30 a.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
MATCH #5
Cleveland State vs. St. Francis (PA) | Saturday, February 1 | 7:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
Last Time Out...
Cleveland State split its matches to open the 2020 spring season, dropping a 7-0 match at Kentucky and picking up a 5-2 win over Toledo. The 5-2 win over Toledo marked the home opener for the Vikings, as they played in front of 150+ fans in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
Cleveland State Set For Tough Competition
Thursday's match at Penn State will mark the second of three opponents for the Vikings who finished last year ranked in the top-75, as the Nittany Lions finished 2019 ranked 33rd nationally. The season opener at Kentucky (37th) marked the first top-75 opponent for the Vikings, while they will also face Louisville (61st) later this spring. Four additional opponents finished last year ranked in their respective regions; Butler, Valparaiso, Western Michigan, and Purdue.
Mostardi Named #HLMTEN Singles Player Of The Week
After splitting his matches at the top of the singles lineup during the first week of the spring season, senior Nico Mostardi was named the Horizon League Singles Player of the Week on Tuesday, January 21. Mostardi, who earned a 6-4, 6-4 straight-set win against Toledo for his first win of the spring campaign, picked up his 10th career weekly accolade.
…Terry & Mindry Named #HLMTEN Doubles Team Of The Week
Junior Matthew Terry and freshman Kade Mindry made it a clean sweep for the Vikings, as the duo was named the Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week after going 1-0 at the No. 2 spot over the first week of action. Terry and Mindry earned a 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles in the season opener at Kentucky, which marked the first collegiate match for Mindry.
Vikings At The MMTP
With the 5-2 victory over Toledo in the home opener, Cleveland State improved to 27-10 all-time when playing in the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion, as the Vikings have now won five straight matches in the MMTP dating back to last spring. Saturday's matches against Butler and St. Francis (PA) will be the second and third of an 11-match home slate for the Vikings this season.
Mostardi & Terry On CSU Singles Wins List
After picking up wins against Toledo last time out, senior Nico Mostardi and junior Matthew Terry both added to their career singles wins total – Mostardi entering the week ranked seventh with 77 career victories and Terry ranking 10th with 70 wins on his career. With three more wins Mostardi would become just the seventh Viking all-time with 80+ wins, while Terry became the 10th Viking all-time to reach the 70-win milestone with his 6-2, 7-6(5) win against the Rockets.
…Mostardi Earns Spot On CSU Doubles Wins List
Nico Mostardi moved into a tie for 10th place on the CSU Doubles Wins List following a 6-3 win with Luke Phillips at the top of the lineup against Toledo last time out, entering the week with 60 career doubles wins. Mostardi is one of nine Vikings to rank in the top-10 on both the singles and doubles wins list, and needs three more wins to move into ninth place on the doubles list.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 18th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 253-178 dual match record. Last year, Etzkin guided the Vikings to their seventh Horizon League Tournament title and seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament, while helping the team earn the highest regional ranking in program history.
Scouting The Matchups
Penn State
2020 Record: 0-2
All-Time Record Against CSU: 3-0
Last Meeting: Penn State 7, Cleveland State 0 (2/4/17)
Butler
2020 Record: 5-1
All-Time Record Against CSU: 11-9
Last Meeting: Butler 5, Cleveland State 2 (2/2/19)
St. Francis (PA)
2020 Record: 0-2
All-Time Record Against CSU: 0-6
Last Meeting: Cleveland State 6, St. Francis 1 (1/31/09)
