Oct. 4, 2008
Contact: Dana Ingraham
TULSA, Okla. -- Three Vikings represented CSU in one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the country Friday night at the D'Novo/ITA Men's All American Championships.
Senior Rob West and juniors Phil Orno and Ryan Hamning competed in the first round of pre-qualifying singles matches to kick off the fall season for Cleveland State. The tournament is single elimination, requiring four wins to advance, and consists of some of the nation's best players.
West and Hamning faced opponents coming from the top of their lineups at Memphis and UT San Antonio but were defeated in two sets.
"Although Rob and Ryan went down today they played well for their first matches of the season," CSU head coach Brian Etzkin said.
Orno, 2008 Horizon League Player of the Year, defeated Ryan Lissner of LSU, 6-4, 6-3 in his first round match, earning his first victory of the season. Dating back to last year, this is Orno's 20th straight win.
"This is really exciting for Phil. He was able to find his swing and play very well," said Etzkin. "Getting that first win and continuing the streak is a nice feather in his cap."
Orno will play the tournament's No. 14 seed, Christian Welte of NC State, Saturday morning.
The rest of the Viking men traveled to Muncie, Ind. to compete in the Ball State Invitational. Two rounds of singles matches and one round of doubles were held on the first night of the tournament.
As a team CSU won two out of the three doubles matches, both against Wright State, to advance to the main draw of doubles matches on Saturday.
Adam Perkins, the only Viking to remain alive in singles play, will play a consolation match Saturday morning.
D'Novo/ITA Men's All American Championships
Pre-qualifying Singles First Round Results
Jorge Vazquez (Memphis) def. Rob West (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
Phil Orno (CSU) def. Ryan Lissner (LSU), 6-4, 6-3
Rodrigo Morgado (UTSA) def. Ryan Hamning (CSU), 6-4, 6-3
Ball State Invitational
First Day Results
"A" singles flight
Yannick Goossens (CSU) def. Joshua Smith (Indiana State), 6-4, 6-7, 10-7
Alex Mast (Duquesne) def. Yannick Goossens (CSU), 6-4, 6-4
Michael Rohona (Dayton) def. Robert Fox (CSU), 2-6, 6-2, 10-7
Benji Raynould (Butler) def. Robert Fox (CSU), 7-5, 6-1
"B" singles flight
Juan-Martin Paredes (Marquette) def. Steven Wipprecht (CSU), 6-2, 7-5
Dan Klingenberg (IUPUI) def. Steven Wipprecht (CSU), 6-2, 2-6, 10-5
"C" singles flight
Jonathon Schwerin (Marquette) def. Adam Perkins (CSU), 6-0, 6-2
Adam Perkins (CSU) def. Kyle Stump (Valparaiso), 6-2, 6-3
Nick Tolomeri (Detroit) def. Aris Spirtos (CSU), 6-2, 6-0
Ej Dechow (IUPUI) def. Aris Spirtos (CSU), 6-1, 6-4
"D" singles flight
Adam Whitmer (Valparaiso) def. Nate Veselenak (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
Mike Koscieleski (Dayton) def. Nate Veselenak (CSU), 6-2, 6-1
"A" doubles flight
Wipprecht/Fox (CSU) def. Alafriz/Camilleri (Wright State), 8-3
"B" doubles flight
Goossens/Spirtos (CSU) def. Kroosmasi/Neuman (Wright State), 8-6
"C" doubles flight
Grimaldi/Milicevic (Eastern Ill.) def. Perkins/Veselenak (CSU), 8-4
