May 12, 2010
Contact: Greg Murphy
Complete Release in PDF Format 
NCAA First & Second Rounds
Cleveland State (20-6) at No. 12 Kentucky (23-8)
Dates: Saturday, May 15, 2010 - 1st Round
Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 2nd Round (if CSU wins 1st round)
vs. Georgia Tech or Binghamton
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST - First Round
1:00 p.m. EST - Second Round
Site: Hillary J. Boone Tennis Complex - Lexington, Ky.
Livestats: www.ukathletics.com
QUICK SETS: Cleveland State will make its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament when the Vikings play at 11th-ranked Kentucky in a first round match on Saturday (May 15) at 1:00 p.m. It will be the second straight year that the two teams will meet in the first round with the Wildcats earning a 4-0 win last season. Cleveland State is 20-6 overall and captured its third straight Horizon League Championship with a 4-0 win over UIC on April 25. Kentucky, seeded 12th in the NCAA tournament, is 23-8 overall and is making its 12th appearance in the tournament in the last 13 seasons. The match will follow Saturday's other first round match between Georgia Tech and Binghamton with the two winners playing at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday (May 16). The second-round winner advances to Athens, Ga., where the remaining rounds will take place May 21-25 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
REVIEWING THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP: Cleveland State won its third consecutive Horizon League Championship with sweeps over Butler and UIC two weeks ago in Indianapolis, Ind. Following are recaps of both matches.
Match 25: CSU 4, Butler 0 (April 24, Indianapolis, Ind.)
Cleveland State advanced to its third straight league title match with a 4-0 win over Butler in the semifinals. After winning the doubles point, CSU clinched the match with straight set singles wins by Phil Orno (No. 1), Yannick Goossens (No. 2) and Chris Klepatz (No. 5).
Match 26: CSU 4, UIC 0 (April 25, Indianapolis, Ind.)
Cleveland State claimed its third straight Horizon League Championship with a 4-0 win over UIC. CSU took a quick 1-0 lead with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles before wins by Rob Fox at No. 4 singles and Chris Klepatz at No. 5 singles put the Vikings one point away from the title. Phil Orno clinched the win at No. 1 singles, winning his 99th career singles match.
PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Head coach Brian Etzkin has transformed the Cleveland State tennis program into one of the top mid-major programs during his eight year tenure, leading the Vikings to the last three Horizon League Championships. This year's squad is experienced from top to bottom, including the top spot in the singles lineup being held by senior Phil Orno (29-11), a four-time first team All-Horizon League selection. Sophomore Yannick Goossens (25-10) anchors the No. 2 spot, while senior four-time all-league selection Ryan Hamning (23-11; No. 3) and junior Rob Fox (28-10; No. 4) solidfy the middle of the lineup. Juniors Chris Klepatz (19-14; No. 5) and John Haley (18-17; No. 6) provide the Vikings with experience at the bottom of the lineup. Orno and Hamning (24-8) are the No. 1 doubles squad for the fourth consecutive season, while Fox and Haley (21-11) combine to form the No. 2 squad and Goossens and Klepatz (15-8) playing at No. 3 doubles.
THREE EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: CSU had three players recognized on the All-Horizon League teams that were announced at the postseason banquet on April 23 during the league tournament. Senior Phil Orno and sophomore Yannick Goossens were both selected to the first team, while senior Ryan Hamning was a second team pick.
... AND SO DOES ETZKIN: Head coach Brian Etzkin was recognized by his peers in the league, picking up Horizon League Coach of the Year accolades for the third time in his career (2007, 2009). Etzkin guided the Vikings to 20 wins for the second consecutive season, tying the school record for victories in a season. He also led CSU to a perfect 7-0 mark in the league.
ORNO MAKES IT FOUR STRAIGHT: Phil Orno's selection to the All-Horizon League first team marked the fourth consecutive season that he earned a spot on the first team. He became just the fifth player in league history to garner a first team selection in four straight seasons, joining Butler's Jimmy Borendame and Brandon Currie and Wright State's Chad Camper and Chad Derry. All four of those players were first team picks from 1999-2002.
LEAGUE DOMINANCE: Cleveland State has dominated the Horizon League over the last three years, winning three straight titles. But the dominance isn't limited to the league tournament as the Vikings have won 25 consecutive matches over league foes. The last time a Horizon League team defeated the Vikings was on April 6, 2008, a 4-3 win by Butler.
ORNO AFTER NO. 100: Senior Phil Orno enters the NCAA Championship with a school record 99 career singles victories, needing one more to reach 100 for his career. He leads the squad with 29 victories this year after winning 21 matches as a freshman, 25 as a sophomore when he was the Horizon League Player of the Year, and 24 last season.
THROWING THE HAMMER DOWN: Senior Ryan Hamning has certainly left his mark on the men's tennis program. One of just three players in school history to earn All-Horizon League honors in four straight seasons, he enters the NCAA tournament with 87 career singles victories and 95 career doubles wins, ranking second all-time behind Phil Orno's 101 doubles victories.
FOUR GET TO 20: Cleveland State has four players with at least 20 singles wins this season, the first time in program history that has been accomplished. Phil Orno leads the way with 29 victories and is followed by Rob Fox (28), Yannick Goossens (25) and Ryan Hamning (23). Two other players are closing in on 20 wins with Chris Klepatz at 19 victories and John Haley at 18.
DOUBLES DUO: There have been many famous duos throughout history, including Batman & Robin, Starsky & Hutch, Bert & Ernie and Laurel & Hardy. But over the last four years, the duo of Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning have made their mark as one of the most dominant doubles teams in the history of the Horizon League, posting a 92-28 (.767) record while playing at the No. 1 position. They set a school record with 26 doubles wins as freshmen,19 victories as sophomores, 23 wins last season and 24 victories this year.
THE GOOSE IS LOOSE: After splitting time between No. 3 and No. 4 singles as a freshman, Yannick Goossens moved up to No. 2 in the lineup this year and responded by earning a spot on the All-Horizon League first team after posting a 25-10 mark. Goossens, who went 6-1 in league matches this season, enters the NCAA tournament having won a team-high five straight matches.
FOXY PLAYER: Junior Rob Fox enters the NCAA tournament ranked second on the team with 28 singles victories and has 74 wins in his career. With one more season of eligibility remaining, Fox has a chance to threaten Phil Orno's school record for career wins (Orno has 99 going into the the NCAA's).
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR: Junior John Haley may be a new face to the Vikings this year, but the name is certainly familiar to those within the program. Haley's older brother, Paul, played tennis at CSU from 2001-05, winning 38 matches in his career. John, who played two years at Tyler J.C. before transferring to CSU, has helped solidify the bottom of the order this year, posting an 18-17 mark at No. 5 and 6 singles and also teaming with Rob Fox to go 21-11 at No. 2 doubles.
DOUBLING UP: Rob Fox and John Haley provided the Vikings with the biggest highlight of the fall when the duo won two matches and advanced to the round of 16 at the Wilson/ITA Regional Championships. It was the furthest that a CSU doubles team had ever advanced at regionals.
20:20: CSU's win over UIC in the league title match on April 25 allowed the Vikings to clinch their second straight 20 win season. This year's team and the 2008-09 squad are the only two teams in program history to record 20 win campaigns. Last year's team also won 20 matches.
EASY AS 1, 2, 3: Cleveland State won its third straight Horizon League Championship with a 4-0 win over UIC on April 25, becoming the first team in school history to win three consecutive Horizon League titles.
APRIL DOMINANCE: Cleveland State has dominated play during the month of April over the last three years, winning 22 consecutive matches played during the month. The last time CSU lost a match in April was a 4-3 setback to Butler on April 6, 2008.
UP NEXT: If the Vikings defeat Kentucky in the first round, CSU would advance to the second round to face the winner of the Georgia Tech/Binghamton match on Sunday (May 16) at 1:00 p.m. The match would be played at Kentucky.
