April 24, 2010
Contact: Greg Murphy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State advanced to its third consecutive Horizon League Championship match with a 4-0 sweep of Butler on Saturday morning at the West Indy Racquet Club.
The top-seeded Vikings will face second-seeded UIC in the title match for the third straight year. CSU knocked off the Flames two years ago, 4-1, and handed UIC a 4-3 setback last season.
UIC advanced to the title match with a 4-3 win over Wright State in today's other semifinal.
Sunday's winner will receive the Horizon League's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
The league title match is scheduled to be played outdoors at North Central H.S., but inclement weather could force it to be played indoors at the Indianapolis Racquey Club, located at 8249 Dean Road.
The Vikings took a quick 1-0 lead by winning the top two doubles matches with relative ease. The No. 1 team of seniors Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning earned an 8-4 win, while the No. 2 squad of juniors Rob Fox and John Haley picked up an 8-2 win.
"Getting the doubles win, especially in the tournament, is a big boost because you know that you only have to win three of the singles matches to clinch the win," Etzkin said. "I thought we came out with a lot of energy and intensity today and did what we had to do. We had good court positioning in our doubles play and really carried that momentum over to the singles."
Straight set singles wins by Orno and No. 1, sophomore Yannick Goossens at No. 2 and junior Chris Klepatz at No. 5 clinched the victory for CSU.
The win was CSU's 24th consecutive win over a Horizon League opponent.
"Coming in as the No. 1 seed and two time defending champion puts a little added pressure on us because teams are no doubt gunning for us," Etzkin said. "But I thought we did a great job of maintaining our composure and winning some key points all day long."
The win improved the Vikings to 19-6 this season.
CSU won at UIC in the regular season, 5-2.
Cleveland State 4, Butler 0
Apr 24, 2010 at Indianapolis, Ind.
Singles competition
1. Orno, Phil (CSU) def. RAYNAULD, Ben (BU) 7-5, 6-2
2. Goossens, Yannick (CSU) def. HERRON, Chris (BU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Hamning, Ryan (CSU) vs. WARREN, Bryce (BU) 4-6, 6-3, unfinished
4. FOX, Rob (CSU) vs. BAYLISS, Brandon (BU) 6-3, unfinished
5. Klepatz, Chris (CSU) def. ERVIN, Zach (BU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Haley, John (CSU) vs. THEODOR, Lenz (BU) 3-6, 6-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. HAMNING, Ryan/ORNO, Phil (CSU) def. RAYNAULD, Ben/WARREN, Bryce (BU) 8-4
2. FOX, Rob/HALEY, John (CSU) def. MCLOUGHLIN, Stephen/THEODOR, Lenz (BU) 8-2
3. GOOSSENS, Yannick/KLEPATZ, Chris (CSU) vs. HERRON, Chris/ERVIN, Zach (BU) unfinished
