April 26, 2009
Contact: Dana Ingraham
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Cleveland State men's tennis team made history on Sunday, completing a clean sweep of conference opponents on the way to defending its league title against UIC to become the 2009 Horizon League champions.
In addition to winning back-to-back league championships, the Viking men subsequently earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament for the second year in a row.
CSU advanced to the championship match by means of a 4-0 shutout of Green Bay on Saturday afternoon. After dominating in doubles play, Cleveland State's seniors willingly accepted the challenge of finishing off the match. Rob West and Steven Wipprecht reversed their results from CSU's earlier meeting with Green Bay, posting straight set victories against opponents they lost to last time.
Saturday's victory over Green Bay also marked career win number 100 for Cleveland State head coach Brian Etzkin.
"I felt good about where we were against Green Bay," Etzkin said. "We were focused from the first shot on and never lost that initial intensity.
"The only thing 100 wins means is that I am lucky enough to be surrounded by good players. I am definitely more concerned with win number 101 because that means a conference championship."
Etzkin and his players would reach that milestone Sunday morning in a 2008 championship rematch against second seeded UIC. Cleveland State handed the Flames a 4-3 decision, a score identical to that from the regular season.
As the Vikings have all season long, they began the match with a strong doubles performance. CSU has not lost a doubles point in the conference all year, a credit to the top two pairs who have remained unbeaten in the Horizon League in the regular season and postseason.
"Our doubles play in the conference has been outstanding," said Etzkin. "We have lived and died by our strength in doubles this season and it turned out to be the decider when we needed it most."
UIC proceeded to take the first set on five of the six singles courts, and CSU's championship destiny began to blur. Robert Fox lost to Dave Robare at No. 5 to tie the match at one. Rob West quickly answered by "summoning the Viking spirit" and winning nine straight points in a three-set victory, a comeback reminiscent of his deciding victory against Butler a mere two weeks ago.
Steven Wipprecht dropped his match at No. 6 and the match was tied again at two. Cleveland State needed to win two of the three remaining singles matches to keep its hopes of a repeat championship alive. Ryan Hamning came up short in a three-set tiebreaker while Yannick Goossens won in straight sets. The match was tied for the third time, and the Vikings' fate was in the hands of Phil Orno.
The junior came through in a big way, fighting through injury and windy conditions to defeat Sebastian Lystad 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, and secure another Horizon League championship for Cleveland State.
"Phil struggled with injuries all weekend, and although it was unorthodox, he assured me he'd find a way to win," Etzkin said. "He has been our leader all season long, and he was definitely the one we wanted out on the court to seal the victory and the championship."
CSU has compiled a 20-5 overall record to date, the highest win total in school history. The Vikings finish the tournament 10-0 in the Horizon League, and are crowned champions for the second time in the program's existence.
"It would be nice to say it was easier the second time around, but it was much more difficult," said Etzkin. "We knew from the beginning everyone would be out to get us being the number one team, but this championship proves that if we keep fighting and stay the course, we can do whatever we set out to do."
Cleveland State will now await their placement in the NCAA tournament. Opponent selection and competition sites will be determined Tuesday, April 28, with tournament play commencing on May 8 and 9.
#1 Cleveland State 4, #4 Green Bay 0
April 25, 2009, Horizon League Championship Semifinals
Doubles
1. Orno/Hamning (CSU) def. Jess/Plaushines (GB), 8-2
2. West/Goossens (CSU) vs. Clegg/Keesey (GB), DNF 7-3
3. Fox/Wipprecht (CSU) def. Wesley/McCarthy (GB), 8-4
Singles
1. Phil Orno (CSU) vs. Matt Clegg (GB), DNF 6-4, 2-2
2. Ryan Hamning (CSU) vs. Paul Swanson (GB), DNF 4-6, 1-0
3. Rob West (CSU) def. Henning Jess (GB), 6-2, 6-3
4. Yannick Goossens (CSU) def. Eric Plaushines (GB), 6-4, 6-1
5. Robert Fox (CSU) vs. Matt Keesey (GB), DNF 6-3, 5-3
6. Steven Wipprecht (CSU) def. Mike Wesley (GB), 6-3, 6-2
#1 Cleveland State 4, #2 UIC 3
April 26, 2009, Horizon League Championship Match
Doubles
1. Orno/Hamning (CSU) def. Lystad/Hudson (UIC), 8-5
2. West/Goossens (CSU) def. Harbo/Wilson (UIC), 8-6
3. Fox/Wipprecht (CSU) vs. Robare/Kirk (UIC), DNF 7-7
Singles
1. Phil Orno (CSU) def. Sebastian Lystad (UIC), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3
2. Bastian Harbo (UIC) def. Ryan Hamning (CSU), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4)
3. Rob West (CSU) def. George Hudson (UIC), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Yannick Goosens (CSU) def. Adriano Liccardo (UIC), 7-6(5), 6-4
5. Dave Robare (UIC) def. Robert Fox (CSU), 6-3, 6-3
6. Nate Kirk (UIC) def. Steven Wipprecht (CSU), 7-6(5), 6-3
