CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team played its final non-league match of the 2021 campaign Saturday, picking up a 4-3 victory over Case Western. With the win, the Vikings are now 10-4 on the season.
"This was just the type of match we needed heading into the rest of our league schedule, Case Western gave us everything they had and we were definitely tested up and down the lineup – but we were able to hold our focus and come through with the win," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles team really came through today, especially Clark and Kade at the No. 3 spot, as they were able to pick up their first win of the season when we needed a big win. In singles, we knew our strength was at the top of our lineup, and we were able to pick up three of the top four singles points. Hopefully this will give us some more momentum heading into the rest of our league slate."
For the 12th time this year the Vikings were able to post the early doubles point, getting wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Matthew Terry and Maxime Mareschal-Hay earned a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles, while Clark Bilinovich and Kade Mindry posted a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles.
Although Case Western was able to pick up the first two singles points at the No. 5 and No. 1 spots, a win from Bilinovich at No. 4 singles evened the match at 2-2. Bilinovich notched a 7-6(5), 6-3 win at the No. 4 spot, giving him a 6-5 singles record on the year.
Case was then able to pick up its third point of the match with a win at No. 6 singles, but the Vikings were able to post wins in the final two matches to earn the 4-3 victory.
At No. 3 singles, Mareschal-Hay posted a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory to improve to 10-4 overall this season and knot the score at 3-3.
Cleveland State's clinching point then came from Luke Phillips at the No. 2 spot, as he earned a 7-6(4), 7-5 win to give the Vikings their eighth straight win. Phillips now has a team-best 10-3 record on the year, while he is also in sole possession of ninth place on the CSU Singles Wins List with 74 career victories.
The Vikings will return to Horizon League play next weekend, hosting Youngstown State on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11.
Cleveland State 4, Case Western 3
Doubles (1, 2, 3)
1. Hopper/Chen (CWRU) def. Mostardi/Phillips (CSU), 6-4
2. Terry/Mareschal-Hay (CSU) def. Mabee/C. Aduru (CWRU), 6-4
3. Bilinovich/Mindry (CSU) def. Kanam/Powell (CWRU), 6-3
Singles (5, 1, 4, 6, 3, 2)
1. James Hopper (CWRU) def. Matthew Terry (CSU), 7-5, 6-2
2. Luke Phillips (CSU) def. Vishwa Aduru (CWRU), 7-6(4), 7-5
3. Maxime Mareschal-Hay (CSU) def. Matthew Chen (CWRU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Clark Bilinovich (CSU) def. Jonathan Powell (CWRU), 7-6(5), 6-3
5. Chaitanya Aduru (CWRU) def. Jack Santilli (CSU), 6-1, 6-1
6. Anthony Kanam (CWRU) def. Kade Mindry (CSU), 7-5, 6-3
