CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's tennis team will begin its 12-match Horizon League slate this weekend, hosting UIC on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14.
MATCH #7
Cleveland State vs. UIC | Saturday, March 13 | 10:00 a.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
Live Scoring
MATCH #8
Cleveland State vs. UIC | Sunday, March 14 | 10:00 a.m.
Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion | Cleveland, Ohio
Live Scoring
Due to the conditions created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Cleveland State will begin the season with no spectators.
2021 #HLWTEN Preseason Poll
Earlier this week, the Vikings were tabbed to finish third in the highly competitive seven-team Horizon League field, collecting 34 points to finish behind preseason favorite UIC and Youngstown State. This marks the ninth year that the Horizon League has released a preseason poll, with the Vikings selected to finish as a top-three team for the sixth time.
…2021 Horizon League Schedule
This year's Horizon League schedule will have a different look to it, as the Vikings will face the same opponent in back-to-back matches each week. Cleveland State is scheduled to host three #HLWTEN series against UIC, Oakland and Northern Kentucky, while the Vikings are set to travel to Youngstown State, IUPUI and Milwaukee.
…Vikings In Horizon League Play
Over the last seven seasons the Vikings have combined for a 43-9 record during regular season Horizon League play. During this span, Cleveland State has captured at least a share of the Regular Season title four times, most recently during the 2019 campaign when the Vikings posted an 8-1 regular season #HLWTEN record.
Cleveland State In The MMTP
This weekend's matches will mark the second and third match of what is scheduled to be a nine-match home slate for the Vikings during the 2021 season, as they will be calling the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion home for the sixth year. Since it's opening in 2016, the Vikings have posted a 37-13 record at the MMTP, including a pair of 9-1 campaigns during 2019 and 2017.
Lenoan Reaches 50 Career Wins
With a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles against Bowling Green last time out, senior Blanche Lenoan posted the 50th singles win of her career. Lenoan, who owns a team-best 5-1 record this season, became the 16th Viking all-time to reach the 50-win milestone.
…Schoenberg Also Closing In On 50 Career Wins
Gaby Schoenberg is also closing in on 50 career singles wins, as she entered the 2021 campaign with 46 victories. During last year's shortened campaign, Schoenberg picked up 11 singles wins, and needs just four more wins to reach the 50-win plateau.
2021 #HLWTEN Weekly Honors
So far this season, the Vikings have picked up one Horizon League Weekly accolade, as Klara Mrcela and Miruna Vasilescu were named the Doubles Team of the Week back on February 10. Mrcela and Vasilescu earned the honor after picking up a 6-3 victory at the top of the doubles lineup against Miami (OH).
Trio Returns For Super-Senior Season
After being granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA after having the 2019-20 season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior trio of Kateryna Avram, Blanche Lenoan and Siân Payne have decided to return for a 'super-senior' season. During the 2019 campaign this trio led the Vikings to a share of the Horizon League Regular Season title and an appearance in the #HLWTEN Championship Match, while they helped the Vikings post an 8-5 record last year.
Vikings Post Strong Semester In The Classroom
With the 2020 Fall Semester in the books, the Vikings posted one of their best semesters in program history, finishing with a 3.848 Team GPA for the term. In addition, five Vikings earned a spot on the Cleveland State University Dean's List (Kateryna Avram, Klara Mrcela, Siân Payne, Gaby Schoenberg, and Selma Tounsi) after recording a 3.25+ GPA on 12 graded credit hours.
Head Coach Frank Polito
Frank Polito is in his third year at the helm of the Vikings, and his ninth year overall at Cleveland State, owning a 25-19 dual match record as head coach. During the 2019 campaign, Polito led the Vikings to a share of the Horizon League Regular Season Championship, and then helped Cleveland State make an appearance in the #HLWTEN Championship Match for the first time since 2014.
Scouting The Matchup
UIC
2021 Record: 7-4, 0-0
All-Time Record Against CSU: 19-4
Last Meeting: UIC 4, Cleveland State 0 (2019 Horizon League Championship, 4/28/19)
