Oct. 21, 2007

Contact: Brian McCann

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - After dropping a pair of singles matches on Saturday, Cleveland State sophomore Phil Orno has been eliminated from the main draw at the annual ITA Regional Tournament, which is being hosted by the University of Minnesota.

Orno opened the tournament by dropping a tough., 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 decision to Notre Dame's Brett Helgeson to fall out of the main draw.

In his opening match in the consolation draw on Saturday evening, Orno was eliminated from the tourney by Purdue's T.J. Rose, 6-4, 7-5.

"These were a couple of tough losses for Phil," CSU head coach Brian Etzkin said. "On one hand, he is only a sophomore and playing against some of the best players in the nation he went toe-to-toe with them for awhile.

"On the other hand, he had a couple of opportunities to grab a big win but wasn't able to take advantage of openings. Still, it was a great experience for him, one that should help him down the road."

In doubles play on Friday afternoon, the Viking duo of Ryan Hamning and Orno were eliminated by the Wisconsin team of Jeremy Sonkin and Luke Rassow-Kaster, 8-2.

"I felt like we were overpowered a bit at first and once we got accustomed to the level of play and started to play better, it was too late," Etzkin said.

At the women's ITA Regional at the University of Michigan, the Vikings were knocked out of doubles play on he first day as well. The Viking duo of Jackie Tabb and Jenn Myers fell to Ohio State's Christina Keesey and Angela DiPastina, 8-2, in the main draw and to Minnesota's Danielle Mousseau and Mariana Spilca, 8-2.

"Jackie and Jenn are still learning to play with each other and to do that against the level of opponents that they faced is very difficult," Etzkin said.

The ITA Regionals completes the fall schedules for the Vikings. The CSU men's tennis team will begin its spring schedule at Indiana on Jan. 12 while the women will travel to IPFW on Jan. 18 for their spring opener.