Feb. 20, 2008
Contact: Jessica Gerich
Complete Release in PDF Format 
CLEVELAND STATE MEN'S TENNIS
vs. Toledo
Date: February 22, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Rocky River, Ohio - River Oaks Racquet Club
vs. Robert Morris
Date: February 24, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Rocky River, Ohio - River Oaks Racquet Club
CLEVELAND STATE WOMEN'S TENNIS
vs. Akron
Date: February 23, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rocky River, Ohio - River Oaks Racquet Club
vs. Robert Morris
Date: February 24, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Rocky River, Ohio - River Oaks Racquet Club
FIRST SERVE: The Cleveland State men's tennis team (6-2) attempts to continue their five consecutive match win streak when they play two matches this weekend, hosting Toledo on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7:00 p.m. and Robert Morris on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 11:00 p.m. The women's team (5-2) improved their win streak to four matches, will host Akron on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1:00 p.m. and Robert Morris along with the men's squad. All matches will take place at River Oaks Raqcuet Club in Rocky River.
PREVIEWING THE VIKING MEN: The Viking men (6-2) stretched their win streak to five straight by defeating Duquesne and St. Francis (PA) on Feb. 8-9. The squad is led by sophomores Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning. A first team All-Horizon League selection last season, Orno has an 11-9 record, predominately at No. 1 singles, while Hamning, an all-league second team selection has a 10-8 record at No. 2 singles. Freshman Chris Klepatz is 8-7 at No. 3 singles while junior Rob West has gone 5-13 at No. 4 singles. Freshman Robert Fox and senior Brad Groleski are 10-7 and 6-4, respectively, to wrap up the bottom of the Viking lineup.
PREVIEWING THE VIKING WOMEN: The women have won four consecutive matches after defeating Dayton, 7-0, on Saturday afternoon. Freshmen Melissa Holzinger (8-10) and Jackie Tabb (5-12) form the top of the Viking lineup. Senior Jenn Myers is 9-7 at No. 3 singles, while freshman Sanda Bjelan is 11-6 at No. 4 singles. Sophomores Denisa Muntean and Charlotte Gibbons hold down the bottom part of the lineup, with 10-7 and 8-2 records at No. 5 and 6 singles, respectively. Holzinger, Bjelan, and Gibbons have all posted five consecutive singles victories. The women's team has also won four straight doubles points.
THE HEAD COACH
Brian Etzkin (Southern Illinois, `98)
Men's Record: 69-65
Women's Record: 64-78
Brian Etzkin, CSU's all-time coaching wins leader, has led both the men's and women's teams to five straight seasons with 10 wins or more. Nine Vikings have garnered All-Horizon League recognition under Etzkin's tutelage and two players have earned Horizon League Newcomer of the Year honors. Etzkin guided both the men's and women's teams to new heights last season, with the women having their best tournament finish in program history, (third) while the men tied their best tournament finish in school history (third).
ETZKIN ON THE MEN: "Toledo beat us pretty badly last year. We had several three-set matches and many close sets but we did not close them out and the score ended up being lopsided in their favor. However, we did have some success against the Rockets this fall and should have some players with direct wins over their opponent when we take the court. The men are looking forward to the challenge of turning a loss from last year into a win."
ETZKIN ON THE WOMEN: "We lost to Akron last year by a score of 4-3 after beating them the two previous years. This year we have a healthier, deeper team. We have improved the result against every team we have played this year and if we can do it again we will get the win. We have put a lot of work into doubles and hopefully we will see the work pay off so we can snag that first point of the match."
BACK FROM WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Sophomores Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning, all-league selections following their freshman campaigns, have picked up where they left off last season. Orno boasts an 11-9 record, predominately at No. 1 singles, while Hamning is 10-8, mainly at No. 2 singles. Hamning and Orno were the only two players representing CSU at the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships, which were held in Tulsa, Okla., in the fall. Both were selected to play singles and doubles at the ITA Regional Tournament.
THEY HAVE BEEN ROBBED: Junior Rob West and Rob Fox form the men's No. 2 doubles team, going 6-5 for the season. The duo defeated Michigan State's No. 2 team 8-5, which was CSU's only victory against the Big Ten team.
TABB TABBED FOR LEAGUE HONORS: Freshman Jackie Tabb received Horizon League Tennis Athlete of the Week honors on Jan. 23, after defeating IPFW's Stacy Lish, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles and going 2-0 at No. 1 doubles with sophomore Charlotte Gibbons. The duo earned wins over IPFW and Michigan State during the spring season opening weekend.
FRESHMEN IMPORTS: Freshmen Sanda Bjelan and Robert Fox have compiled the best record among CSU newcomers. Bjelan, a Bad Ragaz, Switzerland product has an 11-6 record while Fox, a Rotterdam, Netherlands native, has a 10-7 record. Bjelan owns a 6-6 doubles record while Fox has tallied a 6-7 doubles record, predominately at No. 2 doubles.
HAMNING IT UP: Sophomore Ryan Hamning was named Horizon League Tennis Athlete of the Week on Jan. 31, after defeating Chris Herrlinger of Xavier, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Hamning, who is now 10-7 on the season at No. 1 singles, teamed with classmate Phil Orno to win their No. 1 doubles match against Xavier.
CLOSE CALLS: Four of the eight matches played this spring by the men's team have been decided by a 4-3 score, all of which have been Viking victories. The first 4-3 decision was clinched by senior Brad Groleski in dramatic fashion, as he won his match 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 6 singles to decide the match against Xavier. Robert Fox clinched the following two matches decided by a 4-3 score.
HOLZINGER AND ORNO RECEIVE LEAGUE HONORS: Freshman Melissa Holzinger and sophomore Phil Orno swept the Horizon League Tennis Athlete of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 4. Holzinger and Orno won both of their No. 1 singles matches against St. Bonaventure and Niagara. It marked the third consecutive week that at least one member of the CSU tennis team garnered player of the week honors.
