Feb. 11, 2011

Final Stats

Contact: Greg Murphy

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Freshman Matt Kuelker had his first career match clinching victory, earning a win at No. 3 singles to help Cleveland State earn a 5-2 win at Xavier on Friday night.

The win extends CSU's win streak to four straight, improving the Vikings to 4-2 this spring and also avenges a 5-2 loss to the Muskateers last season.

"This was a quality match for us with both teams playing at a high level," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "It was as close of a match as you could have and the momentum shifted so many times during the match. I felt like we were in control for a bit, then lost it, but rallied back to get it and eventually won the match.

"These are the types of matches that are going to help us as a team this season. I thought we were strong physically and mentally and that helped carry us to the win tonight."

The Vikings won two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead as Rob Fox and John Haley won at No. 1 doubles and Yannick Goossens and Kuelker teamed for a win at No. 2 doubles.

"I thought the doubles point was huge tonight," Etzkin said. "It gave us a lot of momentum and confidence as we went to play singles and helped take a little pressure off the guys knowing we were able to secure that point."

Xavier started singles play with wins at No. 4 and No. 6 to take a 2-1 lead, but Haley (No. 5) and Goossens (No. 1) earned straight set wins to give the Vikings a 3-2 lead and Kuelker's 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win at No. 3 singles clinched the win for CSU.

"It was great to have Matt clinch the victory for us for the first time in his career," Etzkin said. "He battled hard all night and won a very grueling third set to clinch the match."

Fox earned an extra point for CSU with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win at No. 2 singles.

The Vikings are back in action on Sunday (Feb. 13) for a 6:00 p.m. match at Kentucky. CSU has played at Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament in each of the last two years.

Cleveland State 5, Xavier 2
Feb 11, 2011 at Cincinnati, Ohio

Singles competition
1. Goossens, Yannick (CSU) def. DEYE, Bobby (XU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Fox, Rob (CSU) def. ROEBKER, Jimmy (XU) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
3. Kuelker, Matt (CSU) def. MACDONALD, Brandon (XU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
4. MEI, Mesa (XU) def. Klepatz, Chris (CSU) 4-6, 6-0, 6-1
5. Haley, John (CSU) def. BANDY, Patrick (XU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. STARR, Brian (XU) def. Ford, Matt (CSU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Fox, Rob/HALEY, John (CSU) def. DEYE, Bobby/STARR, Brian (XU) 9-8 (7-5)
2. GOOSSENS, Yannick/KUELKER, Matt (CSU) def. DIAZ, Philip/PRETORIUS, Marc (XU) 8-6
3. MACDONALD, Brandon/ROEBKER, Jimmy (XU) def. FORD, Matt/KLEPATZ, Chris (CSU) 8-3