By Ben Hercik, Sports Editor
Both the Cleveland State University men’s and women’s tennis teams are currently having very successful seasons. The men’s team currently sits at a record of 12-7 overall and is a perfect 2-0 in conference play. The women’s team is following suit and is 9-7 overall and is 3-0 in conference play. Both the teams are on winning streaks as well. The men’s team has won three straight while the women have won four straight.
Recently conference play has started, and both teams are currently tied for first in the Horizon League. The men’s team recently beat Green Bay-Wisconsin University, by a score of 7-0. Standouts for the men team include junior Nico Mostardi and senior Benjamin Slade. Mostardi won his singles match in straight sets, both of them were 6-2 scores. Slade had a tougher task, but was able to win his match in three sets, 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 1-0 (11-9). The pair then went on to work together to win their doubles match in one set, with a score of 7-6 (7-3).
The women’s team also beat Green Bay 7-0. Sophomore Klara Mrcela won her match in straight sets, with both scores being 6-3. Two other stand out in singles action was sophomore Gaby Schoenberg and junior Kateryna Avram. Schoenberg won her match in straight sets with both scores being 6-1, while Avram won her match in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. In doubles action,
In the match against Youngstown State University, the Viking men were able to pull out a close win, by a score of 4-3. Both Mostardi and Slade were able to pick up wins in singles action again, but fell in doubles action. Slade’s win in singles action put him in sole possession of sixth place on the all time singles win list at 74. A notable loss was by sophomore Luke Phillips, who suffered his first conference loss of his career. The Vikings lost all three doubles matches, but it was the wins in singles action that led the Vikings to the victory. Mostardi, Slade, freshman Clark Bilinovic and senior William Malm. Bilinovic won his match in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4 while Malm had to come from behind to win his match in three sets, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The women’s team match was not nearly as close, as the Vikings won 6-1. Schoenberg and Avram both won their singles matches, as senior Isabella Spindler had a topsy turvy match that she won in three sets, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4. In doubles action, the team of Avram and freshman Lara Prosenjak won their match 6-1, while Schoenberg and Junior Siân Payne won their match 6-4, which secured Cleveland State the team point for the doubles matches.