Vikings Begin Play at Spartan Invitational
    Bjelan Wins Two Singles and One Doubles Match
    Sanda Bjelan

    Sanda Bjelan

    Sept. 25, 2009

    Contact: Greg Murphy

    EAST LANSING, Mich. - Cleveland State rebounded from a slow start to post a strong afternoon finish during the first day of action at the Spartan Invitational on Friday.

    "We got off to a slow start this morning, but came back strong and wound up having a really good day," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "I thought we competed much better as the day went on and we got stronger with each match we played."

    The Vikings dropped all three of their singles matches to start the day, but rebounded later in the afternoon to win two of the three matches in the backdraw of the Green Draw.

    The team of Catrine Bjerrehus and Maria Lazaris combined to defeat a duo from Detroit, 8-2, in the backdraw, while Sanda Bjelan and Denisa Muntean rallied to beat a doubles team from Toldeo, 9-7, after being down 4-1.

    "Sanda had a great day for us," Etzkin said. "I thought she led the team with her play in both singles and doubles and really worked for points. She was very disciplined today and created a lot of offensive opportunities."

    In addition to her one win in doubles, Bjelan also picked up a pair of singles wins in the Blue Draw. She opened play with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jessica Azoulay of Toledo and then defeated Akron's Carolina Castro, 6-4-, 6-3, in the second set.

    Bjelan had lost to Azoulay last year.

    "Sanda is doing a lot of things right on the court and has worked hard to get to where she is today," Etzkin said. "I expect her to keep performing at a high level.

    Bjelan was the only Viking to win a singles match in the first round, but the rest of the Vikings rallied to post wins in the second round, including Bjerrehus, Lazaris, Gibbons and Nicole Janek.

     

     

    The Vikings will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when CSU competes in the second day of the Spartan Invitational.

    SINGLES RESULTS - Blue Draw (First Round)
    Sanda Bjelan (CSU) def. Jessica Azoulay (UT): 6-4, 6-4
    Christie Pleiman (XU) def. Charlotte Gibbons (CSU): 6-2, 6-0
    Second Round
    Bjelan (CSU) def. Carolina Castro (UA): 6-4, 6-3
    Backdraw
    Gibbons (CSU) def. Alexandra Forsyth (IPFW): 6-2, 6-4

    SINGLES RESULTS - Red Draw (First Round)
    Amy Barton (MSU) def. Catrine Bjerrehus (CSU): 6-2, 7-5
    Backdraw
    Bjerrehus (CSU) def. Tifanie Treece (XU): 6-0, 6-0

    SINGLES RESULTS - White Draw (First Round)
    Prang Pantusart (UA) def. Maria Lazaris (CSU): 7-5, 6-4
    Riekie Honiball (MU) def. Nicole Janek (CSU): 6-4, 6-3

    Backdraw
    Lazaris (CSU) def. Nadia Zoubareva (UT): 5-0 WD
    Janek (CSU) def. Racqul Vescovi (IPFW) 6-2, 6-1

    DOUBLES RESULTS - Green Draw (First Round)
    Zara Harutyan/Angelika Jogasuria (UA) def. Sanda Bjelan/Denisa Muntean (CSU):8-4
    Nicole Herzog/Dana Guentert (MSU) def. Catrine Bjerrehus/Maria Lazaris (CSU): 8-0
    Anya Baronayte/Angelika Jogasuria (UA) def. Charlotte Gibbons/Nicole Janek (CSU): 8-5

    Backdraw
    Bjelan/Muntean(CSU) def. Frey/Reynolds (UT): 9-7
    Bjerrehus/Lazaris (CSU) def. Baca/Weldon (DM): 8-2
    Elena Ivanova/Christine Milliken (MSU) def. Gibbons/Janek (CSU): 8-5