April 29, 2007

Contact: Josh Rattray

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Second-seeded Cleveland State defeated Wright State, 4-2, Sunday to clinch third place in the Horizon League Championship. The Vikings (18-8) tied the single-season record for wins with the victory.

The match didn't start well for the Vikings, as Wright State took two of three in doubles play to take a 1-0 lead. CSU came into the match 0-7 this season when losing the doubles point, and 18-0 when winning it.

But CSU rallied with four singles wins, including three in straight sets. Junior Brad Groleski and senior Dan Singer each won close matches at Nos. 2 and 4 singles, respectively, while sophomore Rob West routed Craig Smith 6-3, 6-3 in the fifth spot. Freshman Ryan Hamning finished the raiders off with a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Nick Camilleri at No. 3 singles. It was his 28^th win of the season.

"It was a close match throughout," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "I was glad to see Dan get a win in his last match and then Ryan played well to finish it out."

The third place finish tied last year's team for the best league tournament placing in school history. CSU's 18 wins also equaled the 1989 team's record of 18 victories.

"Even though we weren't playing in the final, we played with a lot of character and pride," Etzkin said. "I was happy with the way we came out and gave our all one last time."

The Vikings will return six of their top seven players, including the top three, next year.

DOUBLES RESULTS

No 1. Koetter/Camilleri (WSU) def.Orno/Hamning 8-5

No 2. Teufel/Smith (WSU) def. West/Wipprecht                8-6

No 3. Groleski/Singer def. Butt/Sundersingh (WSU)          8-5

SINGLES RESULTS

No 1. Phil Orno & Lance Koetter (WSU)                           DNF

No 2. Brad Groleski def. Tony Teuful (WSU)                     6-2, 7-6(3)

No 3. Ryan Hamning def. Nick Camilleri (WSU)                4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3

No 4. Dan Singer def. Brian Butt (WSU)                           7-5, 6-0

No 5. Rob West def. Craig Smith (WSU)                          6-3, 6-3

No 6. Ted Dahmus (WSU) def. Steven Wipprecht 6-2, 3-6, 6-3