CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team remained perfect in Horizon League play Sunday, picking up a 5-2 victory against Northern Kentucky to improve to 14-4 overall and 6-0 in league action.
Sunday's win marked the Vikings' 11th straight win, while it also gave Cleveland State 16 straight regular season league wins dating back to the 2017-18 campaign.
"I thought doubles was much sharper today, our No. 1 team was due to have a good match and they played really well today, and our No. 2 team came out of the gate on fire in their match. It was definitely a different feeling after the doubles point today, which was an improvement from yesterday's match," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "Luke and Max got us a couple quick singles wins, and then Kade got the clincher for us today. It was great to see him step in the lineup and handle some pressure points well to get his win. This was another day of people stepping up into the lineup, and once again we were able to get to work and get the win."
The Vikings were once again able to pick up the early doubles point on Sunday, gaining the 1-0 advantage following wins at the top two spots in the doubles lineup. Cleveland State's No. 1 team of Nico Mostardi and Luke Phillips posted a 6-1 victory, while Matthew Terry and Maxime Mareschal-Hay earned a 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot.
With their win at the top of the lineup, Mostardi and Phillips are now tied for sixth on the CSU Team Doubles Wins List with 24 career wins as a tandem.
Although Northern Kentucky was able to even the score with a retirement win at No. 4 singles, the Vikings responded by picking up wins on four of the final five courts.
Phillips and Mareschal-Hay both picked up their team-leading 14th singles win on Sunday, as Phillips posted a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles and Mareschal-Hay earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot. With his win against the Norse, Phillips remained perfect in Horizon League play, improving to 6-0 on the season.
Cleveland State's clinching point came at No. 6 singles then, as Kade Mindry picked up a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory. Mindry, who was playing in just his fourth singles match of the year due to injury, helped the Vikings extend their win streak to 11 straight matches with his first singles win of the season.
Terry quickly followed with a win at the top of the lineup, as he improved to 6-0 against league opponents with a 7-5, 6-4 victory. Sunday's win put him at 12-4 on the season, and put him in sole possession of third place on the CSU Singles Wins List with 89 career victories.
Northern Kentucky was then able to pick up the final singles win of the day at No. 5 singles, putting the final score at 5-2 Cleveland State.
The Vikings will close out the regular season on the road next weekend, traveling to IUPUI for a pair of matches on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25.
