INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the second straight week and the third time this season, the Cleveland State men's tennis team has swept the Horizon League Weekly Awards, as Nico Mostardi was named the Singles Player of the Week and Matthew Terry and Kade Mindry were named the Doubles Team of the Week.
Last week, the Vikings went 1-1 against Xavier (W, 6-1) and Louisville (L, 5-2) to begin a four-match roadswing, putting their overall record at 4-3 this spring.
Mostardi, who earned the 12th weekly honor of his career, went 2-0 at the top of the singles lineup, extending his current winstreak to six consecutive matches. To begin the week, Mostardi picked up a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 come-from-behind win against Xavier's Brett Winters, and followed that up with a 7-6(1), 6-4 victory against Louisville's Tin Chen who was ranked 66thnationally.
Mostardi's straight-set win over Chen marked his second victory over a ranked opponent this season, while it also moved him into a tie for fourth place on the CSU Singles Wins List with 82 career victories.
"Nico is leading the team at the No. 1 spot this season, and it has been great to see him get to another level on the courts and as a leader," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "It was awesome to see him pick up another ranked singles win with his win at Louisville, and so much of his success this year has been because of his mental toughness, which has been excellent in practice and in matches."
The Cleveland, Ohio native entered the weekend as the No. 86 ranked singles player in the Oracle ITA National rankings, marking the fourth straight week that he has held a spot in the top-125.
Terry and Mindry kept their record perfect this spring following a 2-0 week at No. 2 doubles, as they now stand at 6-0 during dual match play. The duo earned a 6-4 win at Xavier and a 7-6(4) win at Louisville, helping the Vikings pick up the doubles point in both matches.
"Matt and Kade have been leading the way in doubles so far this spring, and they have been playing with a sense of pride every time they take the court," Etzkin said. "Matt and Kade have been a huge part of us being able to pick up the early advantage in almost every match, and they have been playing some really good doubles for a team that hasn't been together very long."
Mindry, who joined the Vikings in January has yet to lose a collegiate doubles match, while Terry improved to 42-27 on his career.
The Vikings will continue their spring season with a pair of road matches this weekend, traveling to Ball State (Friday, February 14) and Valparaiso (Saturday, February 15).
