March 11, 2009
Contact: Dana Ingraham
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Cleveland State men's tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision Tuesday afternoon in what was a highly anticipated match against Big Ten foe Ohio State, now ranked fifth in the country.
The Vikings were looking to avenge a 4-0 loss to the Buckeyes last spring in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Ohio State's Justin Kronauge and Matt Allare defeated Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning at No. 1 doubles, 8-5, snapping Orno and Hamning's 11-match unbeaten streak this season.
Cleveland State put forth a valiant effort throughout its singles lineup despite being defeated in straight sets. Hamning played a close match at No. 4 against Balazs Novak, having multiple opportunities at set points before falling 7-5, 6-1.
Rob West and Robert Fox also played well at their No. 2 and No. 5 positions against Bryan Koniecko and Shuhei Uzawa, two Top 100 players.
"Even though we did not score any points against Ohio State, this was a huge step for our program," said CSU head coach Brian Etzkin. "We battled hard at every spot and we were as competitive with this level of team as we have ever been.
"I saw the potential for what we can accomplish the rest of this year, and I am really excited to get into our conference schedule and see what we can do. Our ultimate goal will be to meet Ohio State again in May in the NCAA tournament."
The loss brings Cleveland State's overall record to 9-4 this season.
This weekend, Viking tennis will travel to Orlando, Fla. for its spring trip. The men are scheduled to play Bethune Cookman on Sunday, March 15, at 3:00 p.m.
No. 5 Ohio State 7, Cleveland State 0
March 10, 2009 at The Ohio State University Indoor Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Kronauge/Allare (OSU) def. Orno/Hamning (CSU), 8-5
2. Koniecko/Uzawa (OSU) def. West/Goossens (CSU), 8-2
3. O'Connell/Novak (OSU) def. Fox/Wipprecht (CSU), 8-2
Singles
1. Justin Kronauge (OSU) def. Phil Orno (CSU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Bryan Koniecko (OSU) def. Rob West (CSU), 6-2, 6-3
3. Matt Allare (OSU) def. Yannick Goossens (CSU), 6-2, 6-2
4. Balazs Novak (OSU) def. Ryan Hamning (CSU), 7-5, 6-1
5. Shuhei Uzawa (OSU) def. Robert Fox (CSU), 6-1, 6-4
6. Steven Williams (OSU) def. Steven Wipprecht (CSU), 6-0, 6-1
Exhibition match
Mike O'Connell (OSU) def. Aris Spirtos (CSU), 8-0
