Sept. 20, 2006
Contact: Josh Rattray
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State tennis head coach Brian Etzkin tied the school record for men's tennis coaching wins as the Vikings defeated Case Western Reserve in their home opener, 5-2, on a cold and windy Wednesday afternoon at the Malaga Tennis Center. Etzkin, who now has a men's tennis coaching record of 46-55, is now tied with Foster Miller (1948-55). Etzkin already holds the school record for women's tennis coaching wins with 44.
"It's a great honor and a great testament to the people we've had in this program," Etzkin said. "We have had a lot of good players and a great assistant coach (David Howell) and we have worked very hard.
"It's more about the team than it is about me."
Cleveland State (1-0) swept the three doubles matches against the Spartans to capture the match's first team point early. Sophomores Steven Wipprecht and Rob West combined to defeat Joe and John Smetana, 8-6, at the top combo spot while senior Dan Singer and junior Brad Groleski won a thriller at No. 2 doubles, 9-8 (11), over Allen Ye and Mike Peterson. Freshmen Ryan Hamning and Phil Orno completed the sweep with an 8-5 win over Kenneth Nguyen and Adam Erickson.
"Case came out and played really well," Etzkin said. "They are a very aggressive doubles team and they were ready to play. I have a lot of respect for Case and how they play the game."
The Vikings finished Case off in singles play by handily winning four of the first five matches. At No.1 singles, Groleski and Joe Smetana battled well into the late afternoon, splitting the first two sets. Groleski won the first stanza, 7-5, before Smetana came back and took the second set, 6-4. In the tie-breaker, the two battled back and forth before Smetana prevailed, 10-8.
Orno won over Ye at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1, and Hamning beat Peterson in the third spot, 6-1, 6-2. At No. 5 singles, Wipprecht won, 6-4, 6-2 over Nguyen, and West beat Erickson, 6-2, 7-6 (2).
Case Western Reserve's John Smetana completed the brothers' singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Singer.
"I was happy with the way our guys battled today," Etzkin said. "This was the first time we used this doubles lineup and we pulled out the close ones. Also, a lot of people would make excuses about the weather conditions today, but out guys didn't. We made the right changes to our game."
CSU travels to the Bradley Invitational in Peoria, Ill. this weekend. Match play starts on Friday afternoon and will continue through Sunday.
SINGLES RESULTS
1. Joe Smetana def. Brad Groleski - 5-7, 6-4 (10-8)
2. Phil Orno def. Allen Ye - 6-2, 6-1
3. Ryan Hamning def. Mike Peterson - 6-1, 6-2
4. John Smetana def. Dan Singer - 6-3, 6-4
5. Steven Wipprecht def. Kenneth Nguyen - 6-4, 6-2
6. Rob West def. Adam Erickson - 6-2, 7-6 (2)
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Wipprecht/West def. Smetana/Smetana - 8-6
2. Singer/Groleski def. Ye/Peterson - 9-8 (11)
3. Hamning/Orno def. Nguyen/Erickson - 8-5
