Feb. 23, 2007

Contact: Josh Rattray

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Cleveland State defeated Youngstown State for the first time under head coach Brian Etzkin, edging the Penguins, 4-3, Friday at Youngstown State. CSU is now 5-5 on the season and 1-0 in Horizon League play.

After dropping the doubles point, Cleveland State got wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, as senior Sarah Galon and freshman Denisa Muntean won in straight sets to give CSU a 2-1 lead. Youngstown State's Michelle Fuleky would defeat junior Lindsay Sellers to even the match but CSU got wins at Nos. 4 and 5 singles to clinch the victory.

"Sarah and Denisa won quickly and we felt comfortable with the early lead," Etzkin said. "We had some players step up and win some big points."

The clinching point came at No. 4 singles when freshman Charlotte Gibbons rallied from a third-set deficit to win in a tie-breaker. After splitting the first two gets against YSU' Nicole Haralambopoulous, Gibbons trailed 5-1 in the third stanza before surging to force a tie-breaker. Gibbons won the tie-breaker, 7-1.

Junior Jenn Myers won 7-5, 6-2 over YSU's Tanisha Welch at No. 5 singles while Irena Lanc defeated sophomore Kristin Chamberlain 7-6 (2), 6-0 in the sixth spot.

Galon and Muntean won, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles for CSU's only doubles win.

"It was an incredible victory," Etzkin said. "Our seniors had never beaten Youngstown State and we are excited to get the win."

The Vikings continue play this weekend at Robert Morris on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

DOUBLES RESULTS

Galon/Muntean def. Fuleky/Thayer (YSU) - 8-4

Peretti/Haralambopoulous (YSU) def. Gibbons/Chamberlain - 9-7

Welch/Gilbertson (YSU) def. Myers/Vogelgesang - 8-2

SINGLES RESULTS

Sarah Galon def. Gina Peretti (YSU) - 6-0, 7-5

Denisa Muntean def. Emily Thayer (YSU) - 6-2, 6-3

Michelle Fuleky (YSU) def. Lindsay Sellers - 6-1, 6-0

Charlotte Gibbons def. Nicole Haralambopoulous (YSU) - 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (1)

Jenn Myers def. Tanisha Welch (YSU) - 7-5, 6-2

Irena Lanc (YSU) def. Kristin Chamberlain - 7-6 (2), 6-0

EXHIBITION

Kelly Culbertson (YSU) def. Christine Vogelgesang - 6-2, 6-1