INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After posting a perfect 8-0 Horizon League record and capturing the 2021 #HLTennis Regular Season title, the Cleveland State men's tennis team was honored with multiple postseason accolades from the league Thursday, with Matthew Terry, Maxime Mareschal-Hay, Nico Mostardi, Luke Phillips, and head coach Brian Etzkin all earning postseason awards.
Terry was named the 2021 Horizon League Player of the Year and First Team honoree, Mareschal-Hay was named the Freshman of the Year and Second Team honoree, Etzkin was tabbed the 2021 Horizon League Coach of the Year, and Mostardi and Phillips both earned a spot on All-League teams.
Cleveland State has now claimed Player of the Year honors three straight seasons (Nico Mostardi 2018 & 2019), while a Viking has been named the Freshman of the Year three out of the last four years (Nico Mostardi 2017, Matthew Terry 2018).
MATTHEW TERRY | SR | PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Terry picks up Player of the Year honors after posting an overall record of 14-4 this season, including a perfect 8-0 mark against league opponents. Terry's eight #HLTennis wins came at the top-two singles spots, as he picked up wins against every team's No. 1 and No. 2 players throughout the season.
During the season Terry picked up Horizon League Singles Player of the Week accolades six times – a league-best – and is currently on a six-match win streak. Entering tournament play, Terry ranks third on the CSU Singles Wins List with 91 career victories, and is one of just three Vikings all-time to reach the 90-win milestone.
In doubles, Terry has teamed with Maxime Mareschal-Hay for the majority of the season, owning a 10-4 record - which is tied for the team-lead. Against league opponents the duo owns a team-best 6-1 mark, with all of their matches coming at the No. 2 spot.
Terry is the third Viking to be named Player of the Year – and second active Viking to earn the honor – while he becomes the 10th Viking all-time to earn a spot on the All-League First Team.
Terry's Previous Horizon League Honors: Freshman of the Year (2018), Second Team All-League (2018, 2019).
MAXIME MARESCHAL-HAY | FR | FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mareschal-Hay has been named the Freshman of the Year after finishing regular season play with a 16-4 overall record, including a 7-1 mark against league opponents. Playing primarily at the No. 3 spot, Mareschal-Hay is tied for the team and league-lead with his 16 wins this season.
Entering tournament play, Mareschal-Hay has won eight straight matches and is one of just four league players to post seven or more singles wins during league matches this season.
In doubles, Mareschal-Hay has teamed with Matthew Terry for the majority of the season, owning a 10-4 record - which is tied for the team-lead. Against league opponents the duo owns a team-best 6-1 mark, with all of their matches coming at the No. 2 spot.
Marsechal-Hay is the fifth Viking to be named Freshman of the Year – and third active Viking to earn the honor – while he is the 15th Viking all-time to earn a spot on the All-League Second Team.
NICO MOSTARDI | R-SR | FIRST TEAM
Mostardi earns a spot on the All-League First Team after posting an undefeated 4-0 singles slate against league opponents despite battling injuries throughout the season. In addition, he also finished with a 5-2 mark in Horizon League doubles play.
Entering tournament play, Mostardi ranks fourth on the CSU Singles Wins List with 89 career victories, and is just one win shy of becoming the fourth Viking all-time with 90+ career wins.
In doubles, Mostardi has teamed with Luke Phillips for the majority of the season, owning a 10-4 record at the top of the lineup. As a three-time Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week honoree, the duo finished with a 5-2 record against league opponents, and is currently tied for fifth on the CSU Doubles Wins List with 25 wins as a duo.
Mostardi is earning league honors for the fourth time during his career, becoming the fifth Viking to be a four-time honoree.
Mostardi's Previous Horizon League Honors: Player of the Year (2018, 2019), Freshman of the Year (2017), First Team All-League (2018, 2019), Second Team All-League (2017).
LUKE PHILLIPS | SR | SECOND TEAM
Phillips has been named to the All-League Second Team following a perfect 8-0 regular season record against league opponents playing at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Overall this season, Phillips owns a team-best 16-3 record, with his 16 wins also tied for the lead among league players.
For his career, Phillips finished with a 20-1 overall record in regular season league matches, posting undefeated campaigns as a senior and freshman (7-0).
Entering tournament play, Phillips is on a team-best nine-match win streak, and is currently tied for eighth on the CSU Singles Wins List with 80 career victories.
In doubles, Phillips has teamed with Nico Mostardi for the majority of the season, owning a 10-4 record at the top of the lineup. As a three-time Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week honoree, the duo finished with a 5-2 record against league opponents, and is currently tied for fifth on the CSU Doubles Wins List with 25 wins as a duo.
Phillips is earning Second Team honors for the third time in his career and is the ninth Viking to be a three-time honoree.
Phillips' Previous Horizon League Honors: Second Team All-League (2018, 2019)
BRIAN ETZKIN | COACH OF THE YEAR
Etzkin was named the Coach of the Year after guiding the Vikings to their seventh Horizon League Regular Season Championship following a perfect 8-0 #HLTennis slate. Entering tournament play, the Vikings own a 16-4 overall record, marking the 10th time under Etzkin's guidance that the Vikings have eclipsed the 15-win mark.
Last weekend's victories at IUPUI extended Cleveland State's current win streak to 13 straight matches – which is tied for the fourth longest active win streak among Division I teams – while it also gave Etzkin his 275th career victory with the Vikings.
This marks the fifth Horizon League Coach of the Year honor for Etzkin, as he is now one of just two coaches in Horizon League history with five accolades.
2021 Horizon League Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Matthew Terry, Cleveland State
Freshman of the Year: Maxime Mareschal-Hay, Cleveland State
Coach of the Year: Brian Etzkin, Cleveland State
Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award: Ethan Mardanus-Budiono, IUPUI
First Team
Matthew Terry, Cleveland State
Nico Mostardi, Cleveland State
Ethan Mardanus-Budiono, IUPUI
Emilien Burnel, Northern Kentucky
Laurentieu Mandocescu, Youngstown State
Vasilis Vardakis, Youngstown State
Second Team
Luke Phillips, Cleveland State
Maxime Mareschal-Hay, Cleveland State
Alex Jochim, IUPUI
Andrew Niehaus, Northern Kentucky
Pelle Strandberg, UIC
Joao Garretto, Youngstown State
