Feb. 7, 2010
Final Stats
Contact: Greg Murphy
OLEAN, N.Y. - The Cleveland State women's tennis team picked up its first two victories of the season with two victories in New York over the weekend. The Vikings picked up a 7-0 sweep at Niagara on Saturday and then knocked off St. Bonaventure, 6-1, on Sunday.
The two wins improved CSU to 2-4 this season.
"The first four matches on our schedule were against very good teams and I think that helped prepare us for this weekend," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "They made us a better team and tougher mentally and physically and I think paid dividends as we continue to move forward.
"We rested a few players this weekend and that gave others a chance to move up in the lineup and everyone stepped up and played well. We have been working hard in doubles and were able to win the doubles point in both matches and that really helped us get the momentum in both matches.
"We are getting better as a team each time we take the court and are always ready to go when we take the court. After the four tough matches to open the season, it feels great to get back on the winning track and hopefully we can sustain this momentum moving forward."
In the win over Niagara, the Vikings earned wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles and a default win at the No. 3 position to pick up the point. CSU then went on to sweep all six singles matches in straight sets, including a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles by freshman Maria Lazaris as Catrine Bjerrehus, who normally plays No. 1, was given the day off.
In all, CSU gave up just 12 games against the Purple Eagles in singles play.
CSU also won the doubles point against SBU, winning at No. 1 and No. 3 singles before winning five of the six singles matches.
Bjerrehus was back in the lineup, earning a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles, while Lazaris won, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 2 singles.
Sanda Bjelan (No. 3), Charlotte Gibbons (No. 4) and Denisa Muntean (No. 5) also won their singles matches in straight sets.
The Vikings are back in action next weekend when they play at IPFW on Friday (Feb. 12) and against Dayton on Saturday (Feb. 13).
Cleveland State 7, Niagara 0
Feb 06, 2010 at North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Singles competition
1. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) def. HANSEN, Hilary (NU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Janek, Nicole (CSU) def. SOLIS, Raquel (NU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Bjelan, Sanda (CSU) def. CUNNINGTON, Emma (NU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Gibbons, Charlotte (CSU) def. WALTERS, Brittany (NU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Muntean, Denisa (CSU) def. GRAY, Julia (NU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Drake, Molly (CSU) def. No player (NU), by default
Doubles competition
1. LAZARIS, Maria/MUNTEAN, Denisa (CSU) def. CUNNINGTON, Emma/HANSEN, Hilary (NU) 8-4
2. GIBBONS, Charlotte/JANEK, Nicole (CSU) def. SOLIS, Raquel/WALTERS, Brittany (NU) 8-1
3. DRAKE, Molly/BJELAN, Sanda (CSU) def. No player/No player (NU), by default
Cleveland State 6, St. Bonaventure 1
Feb 07, 2010 at Olean, N.Y.
Singles competition
1. Bjerrehus, Catrine (CSU) def. MARIN-SALCEDO, M. (SBU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Lazaris, Maria (CSU) def. BAROUSSE, Maria (SBU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Bjelan, Sanda (CSU) def. PALLIKUNNEL, Amanda (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Gibbons, Charlotte (CSU) def. GARIA-ROJAS, Kalia (SBU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Muntean, Denisa (CSU) def. ARCHER, Riley (SBU) 6-1, 6-0
6. HORGAN, Eileen (SBU) def. Drake, Molly (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. BJERREHUS, Catrine/GIBBONS, Charlotte (CSU) def. BAROUSSE, Maria/PALLIKUNNEL, Amanda (SBU) 8-3
2. GARIA-ROJAS, Kalia/MARIN-SALCEDO, M. (SBU) def. LAZARIS, Maria/MUNTEAN, Denisa (CSU) 8-7
3. DRAKE, Molly/BJELAN, Sanda (CSU) def. ARCHER, Riley/HORGAN, Eileen (SBU) 8-1
