CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team will look to defend its back-to-back-to-back Horizon League Tournament titles this weekend, entering the 2022 Horizon League Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Vikings will open #HLTennis Tournament play with a semifinal contest on Saturday, April 30 against third-seeded IUPUI, and a win would put them into the championship match on Sunday, May 1. 

HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | 2022 #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT BRACKET | MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS

Horizon League Semifinals
Saturday, April 30 | vs. IUPUI | 11:00 a.m.
Varsity Tennis Center | Ann Arbor, Mich. 

Horizon League Championship
Sunday, May 1 | vs. TBA | 11:00 a.m.
Varsity Tennis Center | Ann Arbor, Mich.

Cleveland State In The Horizon League Tournament
The Vikings have had much success in the Horizon League Tournament under head coach Brian Etzkin, capturing eight tournament titles under his guidance (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021). Over the last 10 complete seasons the Vikings have advanced to the championship match eight times – the only school to play in the championship match more than five times during that 10-year span. Out of the five current Horizon League schools, Cleveland State owns the most Horizon League Regular Season (7) and Tournament Titles (8).  

…Vikings As The No. 2 Seed
This marks the fifth time that Cleveland State will be playing as the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Tournament, and the 11^th time that the Vikings will be playing as a top-two seed. The Vikings have reached the championship match three times as a No. 2 seed, capturing the tournament title during the 2018 and 2013 campaigns.  

#HLTennis Regular Season Recap
Cleveland State finished regular season play with a 6-2 record against league opponents, with its only losses coming against regular season champion Youngstown State. Cleveland State notched three of it's #HLTennis wins in 7-0 decisions, including back-to-back sweeps against IUPUI and UIC to open the month of April. 

Four Earn #HLTennis Postseason Honors
The quartet of Mikael Erler, Maxime Mareschal-Hay, Clark Bilinovich, and Kade Mindry all picked up postseason honors from the Horizon League earlier this week, with Erler and Mareschal-Hay earning a spot on the All-League First Team and Bilinovich and Mindry being named to the All-League Second Team. This marked the second straight season that the Vikings had two First Team honorees, and also the second straight year that Cleveland State had four total players earn postseason accolades.  

Bilinovich Closes Out Perfect #HLTennis Regular Season Slate
Last time out, Clark Bilinovich put the final touches on a perfect 8-0 regular season slate against Horizon League opponents. For his career, Bilinovich finished with a 17-1 overall record in regular season league matches, posting undefeated campaigns as a senior and freshman (6-0). 

…Bilinovich On CSU Singles Wins List
Entering #HLTennis Tournament play, Clark Bilinovich ranks 12^th on the CSU Singles Wins List with 64 career victories. Earlier this year, Bilinovich became just the 14^th Viking all-time to reach the 60-win milestone, while one more singles victory would make him the 12^th Viking all-time with 65+ wins on their careers.  

Mareschal-Hay & Mindry Earn All-Academic Honors
Earlier this week, Maxime Mareschal-Hay and Kade Mindry both earned a spot on the six-member Horizon League All-Academic Team, earning the accolade for the first time in their careers. Mareschal-Hay is currently studying sport management, while Mindry is pursuing a degree in finance.  

#HLTennis Weekly Honors
Throughout the season the Vikings have been honored by the Horizon League multiple times, picking up six Singles Player of the Week honors and six Doubles Team of the Week accolades – leading the league in both categories. 

Singles Player of the Week:
Maxime Mareschal-Hay - (1.26/2.9/4.6)
Mikael Erler – (2.2/3.3/3.10) 

Doubles Team of the Week:
Hugo Chatras/Austin Staiger – (2.9)
Kade Mindry/Clark Bilinovich – (3.3)
JuandeDios Abboud/Hugo Chatras – (3.10)
Clark Bilinovich/Raul Teichmann – (3.30/4.13)
Maxime Mareschal-Hay/Mikael Erler – (4.6) 

Head Coach Brian Etzkin
Brian Etzkin is in his 20^th year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 290-200 dual match record. Etzkin has guided the Vikings to eight Horizon League Tournament titles and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. As the all-time winningest coach in program history, Etzkin is one of the longest tenured coaches in the Horizon League, and is the only men's coach to record 275+ wins at their current school.