CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will close out its brief four-match homestand this weekend, hosting Xavier in a pair of matches on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21.
MATCH #10
Cleveland State vs. Xavier | Saturday, March 20 | 4:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
MATCH #11
Cleveland State vs. Xavier | Sunday, March 21 | 12:00 p.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
Due to the conditions created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Cleveland State will not allow spectators at any home matches during the 2021 campaign.
Last Time Out…
The Vikings picked up a pair of sweeps against St. Bonaventure, notching a 7-0 win in the first match of a doubleheader and a 4-0 victory in the series finale. Matthew Terry and Maxime Mareschal-Hay both went 2-0 in singles play against the Bonnies, while Clark Bilinovich and Luke Phillips notched a pair of doubles wins to help the Vikings pick up both doubles points.
Vikings At The MMTP
This weekend's matchup against Xavier will mark the fifth and sixth matches of what is scheduled to be an 11-match home slate for the Vikings during the 2021 season, as they will be calling the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion home for the sixth year. Since it's opening in 2016, the Vikings have posted a 31-13 record at the MMTP.
Vikings Sweep #HLMTEN Weekly Honors
Earlier this week, Cleveland State swept the Horizon League weekly awards for the first time this season, as Matthew Terry was named the Singles Player of the Week and Clark Bilinovich and Luke Phillips picked up Doubles Team of the Week honors. Terry picked up a pair of wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles against St. Bonaventure, including the clinching point in the second match of the doubleheader. Bilinovich and Phillips were playing as a tandem for the first time this season, posting a perfect 2-0 record at the top of the lineup.
Terry Moves Up CSU Singles Wins List
With his two wins against St. Bonaventure last weekend, Matthew Terry eclipsed the 80-win mark for his career, moving into seventh place on the CSU Singles Wins List with 81 career wins. Terry, who is just the eighth Viking all-time to reach the 80-win milestone, is now just one win shy of moving into a tie for fifth place.
Phillips Notches 70th Career Singles Win
With a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles in the first match against St. Bonaventure, Luke Phillips notched the 70th singles win of his career, becoming the 11th Viking all-time to reach the milestone. Phillips, who owns a team-best 6-2 record on the year, needs just one more win to earn a spot on the CSU Singles Wins List. Phillips would be the third active Viking to be ranked in the top-10, joining Nico Mostardi (4th) and Matthew Terry (7th).
Mareschal-Hay Goes 2-0 Against St. Bonaventure
Last time out, freshman Maxime Mareschal-Hay was one of two Vikings to post two wins against St. Bonaventure, earning both victories at No. 3 singles against the Bonnies. With the wins, Mareschal-Hay is now tied for the team lead with six singles wins so far this season, including a 5-1 mark at the No. 3 spot.
Abboud & Staiger Pick Up First Collegiate Singles Wins
The freshman duo of JuandeDios Abboud and Austin Staiger picked up their first collegiate singles wins last time out, as Abboud posted a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles and Staiger earned a 6-4, 6-2 victory at the No. 6 spot. For Staiger, this marked his first appearance in the singles lineup for the Vikings this season.
Vikings With The Doubles Point
So far this season Cleveland State has picked up the doubles point in seven of its nine matches, including both matches against St. Bonaventure last time out. For the year, Clark Bilinovich and Raul Teichmann own a team-best 4-1 record, while Nico Mostardi and Luke Phillips stand at 3-1 on the year.
2021 #HLMTEN Preseason Poll
Last week, the Vikings were selected as the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League, picked to defend their back-to-back titles in the #HLMTEN Preseason Poll. The Vikings secured all five first-place votes, along with 25 points to beat out second place Youngstown State by six points. IUPUI, Northern Kentucky and UIC rounded out the poll.
Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 19th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 263-189 dual match record. During his tenure, Etzkin has led the Vikings to seven Horizon League Tournament titles and seven trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Scouting The Matchup
Xavier
2021 Record: 2-5
All-Time Record Against CSU: 6-8
Last Meeting: Cleveland State 6, Xavier 1 (2/8/20)
