SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's tennis team's quest for its ninth Horizon League Tournament title will begin on Saturday, April 27, as the Vikings are set to begin play as the North No. 1 seed in this year's tournament. The Vikings will open the Horizon League Tournament with a semifinal contest against the winner of the South No. 2 Tennessee State/North No. 3 Youngstown State first round matchup, and a win would put them into the championship contest on Sunday, April 28.
COMPLETE CSU NOTES | MATCH-BY-MATCH STATS | #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
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 12 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 12-year span. Out of the current Horizon League schools, Cleveland State owns the most Horizon League Regular Season (9) and Tournament Titles (8).
…VIKINGS AS THE NO. 1 SEED
This marks the eighth time that Cleveland State will be playing as a top seed in the Horizon League Tournament, also earning the No. 1 seed during the 2023, 2021, 2019, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 seasons. The Vikings have reached the championship match all but one year that they have played as the top seed, capturing the tournament title on five occasions.
…HORIZON LEAGUE NORTH & SOUTH DIVISIONS
The Horizon League was once again split into a North and South Division for the 2024 men's tennis campaign, with Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Northern Kentucky, IUPUI, and Chicago State competing in the North Division and Belmont, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, Southern Indiana, Lindenwood, and Eastern Illinois competing in the South Division.
#HLTENNIS REGULAR SEASON SLATE…
Last time out, Cleveland State picked up a 6-1 victory over Youngstown State, capping off a perfect 8-0 #HLTennis regular season slate. This marked the fifth undefeated #HLTennis regular season slate for the Vikings and the first since 2021.
BATTLE NAMED #HLTENNIS FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Earlier this week rookie Lincoln Battle picked up major honors from the Horizon League, as he was named the #HLTennis Freshman of the Year. Battle, who also earned a spot on the All-League First Team, is the sixth Viking to be named Freshman of the Year. Battle has spent the majority of the 2024 season playing at No. 1 singles, posting an 18-8 record on the year, including a 7-1 mark against league opponents.
…ERLER NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-LEAGUE
Senior Mikael Erler also picked up postseason honors from the Horizon League, as he earned a spot on the All-League Second Team. Erler, who posted a perfect 8-0 regular season record against league opponents at No. 2 singles, enters tournament play with an 18-9 overall record. Erler is currently on a 10-match win streak, and has earned #HLTennis honors in three consecutive seasons.
…ETZKIN NAMED #HLTENNIS COACH OF THE YEAR
For the sixth time in his career Brian Etzkin picked up Horizon League Coach of the Year honors, becoming the only coach in league history to earn the accolade six or more times. Etzkin is in his 22nd year at the helm of the Vikings, owning a 329-215 dual match record, including a 19-6 record this season.
MINDRY RECORDS 60 CAREER SINGLES WINS
Earlier this season Kade Mindry picked up the 60th singles win of his career, becoming the only active Viking to reach the 60-win milestone. All-time, Mindry is the 15th Viking to reach the mark, and currently ranks 14th on the CSU Singles Wins List. For the year, Mindry owns a 10-10 record after returning to the lineup for the spring campaign, and posted a 6-2 mark against league opponents at No. 3 singles.
CLEVELAND STATE WITH THE DOUBLES POINT
Through eight Horizon League regular season matches, Cleveland State picked up the doubles point in every single match, combining for a 16-3 record on the doubles courts. CSU's No. 3 team of Devin Boyer/Lincoln Battle notched a perfect 8-0 record in league play, while JuandeDios Abboud/Carl Gedlitschka went 5-2 and Kade Mindry/Nico Jamison posted a 3-1 mark.
CSU ENTERS #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT ON 11-MATCH WIN STREAK
Cleveland State enters Horizon League Tournament play on an 11-match win streak, dating back to a neutral site win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 12. This marks the first 10+ match win streak for the Vikings since 2021, while CSU is the only #HLTennis team to string together 10 or more consecutive wins this season.
…AND TRACKING 20-WIN SEASON
The Vikings also enter Saturday's semifinal contest one win shy of 20 for the year, currently standing at 19-6 overall this season. With one more win, Cleveland State would record its third 20-win season in program history, with the first two coming during the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
#HLTENNIS WEEKLY HONORS
Throughout the season the Vikings have been honored by the Horizon League multiple times, picking up seven Singles Player of the Week honors and eight Doubles Team of the Week accolades - with Lincoln Battle leading all league players with six weekly honors and the duo of JuandeDios Abboud/Carl Gedlitschka leading all doubles teams with four accolades.
Singles Player of the Week:
Lincoln Battle (1.24/1.31/2.7/3.6/3.27/4.3), Kade Mindry (2.14)
Doubles Team of the Week:
Jamison/Mindry (1.24/2.7), Erler/Matyjas (1.31), Battle/Boyer (3.6),
Abboud/Gedlitschka (2.14/3.13/4.17/4.24)
