April 25, 2010
Contact: Greg Murphy
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The three-peat is complete.
Cleveland State claimed its third straight Horizon League and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with a 4-0 win over UIC on Sunday morning at the Indianapolis Racquet Club.
It is the third consecutive year that CSU defeated the Flames in the championship match after winning 4-1 two years ago and 4-3 last season.
"Of the three championships, this was probably our most resounding win and was never really in doubt," head coach Brian Etzkin said."The guys were not going to be denied the title this year. They felt that they were the best team in the Horizon League all year long and proved it today.
"It was so exciting to have the support we had here all weekend, especially from the alumni and we'd like to thank them for that. This win is for all of them, as well as the new players on our team who have not had a chance to experience a championship.
"The win was also a parting gift for Director of Athletics Lee Reed who has done nothing but support our program for the last eight years. We wanted to send him out with another championship and were able to accomplish that goal."
The Vikings took a quick 1-0 lead with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
"We came out flat in the doubles and I was kind of worried, but about midway through we were able to get some breaks and start to pull away," Etzkin said. "That allowed us to pick up our energy and intensity and let us pull away."
Seniors Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning teamed for an 8-6 win at the top spot, while juniors Rob Fox and John Haley won, 8-5, at No. 2 doubles.
"Once we got the doubles point, I felt good because I don't think there are any teams in the league who can beat us in four of six singles matches," Etzkin said.
He didn't have to worry about that as CSU quickly won three singles matches to win the championship.
Fox made quick work at the No. 4 slot, winning 6-2, 6-1 and Chris Klepatz won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5 singles to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
Orno (No. 1) and Haley (No. 6) both had match points to give the Vikings the championship, but it was the senior Orno, arguably the best player to ever play at CSU, who clinched the championship for the Vikings with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sebastian Lystad, a player he lost to in the regular season.
"It was only fitting that Phil was able to clinch the championship for us because he, along with Ryan Hamning, have done so much to build this program since they arrived four years ago," Etzkin said.
CSU's win was its 25th consecutive win against a league opponent and sends the Vikings to the NCAA Championship for the third straight year. Two years ago, the Vikings lost at Ohio State and fell at Kentucky last year.
The official announcement of the NCAA bracket is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4
"We have one more goal this season and that is to win a match in the first round of the NCAA tournament," Etzkin said. "We know it won't be easy because we will likely be playing a top 16 or 32 team, but we'll give it everything we have and see what happens."
Cleveland State 4, UIC 0
Apr 25, 2010 at Indianapolis, Ind.
Singles competition
1. Orno, Phil (CSU) def. LYSTAD, Sebastian (UIC) 6-4, 6-4
2. Goossens, Yannick (CSU) vs. HARBO, Bastian (UIC) 6-4, unfinished
3. Hamning, Ryan (CSU) vs. GONZAGA, Luis (UIC) 6-4, 3-6, unfinished
4. FOX, Rob (CSU) def. KIRK, Nate (UIC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Klepatz, Chris (CSU) def. OSPINA, Nicolas (UIC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Haley, John (CSU) vs. GIRALDO, Camilo (UIC) 6-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. ORNO, Phil/HAMNING, Ryan (CSU) def. HARBO, Bastian/GONZAGA, Luis (UIC) 8-6
2. FOX, Rob/HALEY, John (CSU) def. LYSTAD, Sebastian/KIRK, Nate (UIC) 8-5
3. GOOSSENS, Yannick/KLEPATZ, Chris (CSU) vs. ROBARE, Dave/SHEPARDSON, Scott (UIC) unfinished
