The best Cleveland State men’s tennis sets for the #HLTennistournament in track and field

SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men’s tennis team’s quest for a ninth Horizon League Tournament title begins Saturday, April 29, when the Vikings begin play as the No. 1 North seed in this year’s tournament. The Vikings open the Horizon League Tournament with a semifinal contest against South No. 2 Tennessee Tech/North No. 3 against the winner of Northern Kentucky’s first-round game, and a win would advance them to the championship game on Sunday, April 30.

COMPLETE CSU NOTES | #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | #HLTENNIS TOURNAMENT BUCKET

CLEVELAND STATE IN THE HORIZON LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
The Vikings have had a lot of success in the Horizon League under head coach Brian Etzkin, winning eight tournament titles under his guidance (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021). In the past 11 full seasons, the Vikings have advanced to the championship game eight times – the only school to play in the championship game more than five times in those 11 years. Of the current Horizon League schools, Cleveland State owns the most Horizon League regular season (8) and tournament titles (8).

…VIKINGS NO. 1 SEED
This is the seventh time Cleveland State has played as the top seed in the Horizon League Tournament, also earning the No. 1 seed in 2021, 2019, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008. The Vikings have reached the championship game each year they have played as a top seed and won the tournament title all five times .

…NEW LOOK HORIZON LEAGUE
During the 2023 campaign, the Horizon League was split into a North and South division as a result of a partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference, which welcomed Belmont, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech. In addition, the Horizon League also added Chicago State to tennis for the 2022-23 academic year.

MARESCHAL-HAY NAMED #HLTENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Earlier this week, junior Maxime Mareschal-Hay received major honors from the Horizon League as he was named the #HLTennisplayer of the year. Mareschal-Hay, who also earned a spot on the All-League first team, is the fourth Viking to be named Player of the Year. Mareschal-Hay has played the entire 2023 season at No. 1 singles, posting a team-best 24 wins on the year, including a perfect 8-0 record against league opponents.

…ERLER & TEICHMANN NAMED ALL-LEAGUE
In addition to Maxime Mareschal-Hay, Mikael Erler and Raul Teichmann also earned All-League honors, both earning a spot on the All-League Second Team. It’s the second time Erler has earned all-league honors, while it’s the first time Teichmann has earned postseason honors.

MARESCHAL-HAY LEAVES 8-0 #HLTENNIS CAMPAIGN
Through five weeks of the Horizon League regular season, junior Maxime Mareschal-Hay posted a perfect 8-0 singles record. Mareschal-Hay, who picked up all eight wins from the No. 1 game, enters the weekend with a 24-9 overall record on the year and an eight-game winning streak. Mareschal-Hay owns a 20-3 career record against league opponents in singles play.

THE VIKINGS TRIO ACHIEVED 50 CAREER WINS
Throughout the season, three Vikings reached the 50 career win milestone, including junior Maxime Mareschal-Hay, who enters the #HLTennis Tournament with a team-best 59 wins. Raul Teichmann currently has 57 career wins, while Kade Mindry has 51 career wins. That trio is part of 20 Vikings all-time to reach the 50-win milestone, while Mareschal-Hay is just one win shy of becoming the 15th Viking all-time to reach 60 career wins.

MINDRY & TEICHMANN ON THE CSU DOUBLES WIN LIST
After posting a team-best 17-11 doubles record in the 2023 regular season, Kade Mindry and Raul Teichmann are currently tied for ninth on CSU’s single-season doubles wins list. Mindry and Teichmann played the entire spring campaign at No. 1 doubles and are just two wins away from moving into seventh place on the top 10 list.

#HLTENNIS WEEKS
During the season, the Vikings have received Horizon League honors multiple times, earning five Singles Player of the Week awards and five Doubles Team of the Week honors – a league-best five No. 1 singles players of the week.

Solo player of the week:
Maxime Mareschal-Hay (2.15/2.22/4.19), Mikael Erler (3.1/3.29)

Doubles Team of the Week:
Teichmann/Mindry (1.25/2.8/2.22/4.19), Mareschal-Hay/Erler (3.1)

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BRIAN ETZKIN
Brian Etzkin is in his 21st year at the helm of the Vikings and has a 310-208 dual meet record. Etzkin has guided the Vikings to eight Horizon League Tournament titles and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. As the all-time winningest coach in program history, Etzkin is one of the longest-tenured coaches in the Horizon League and the only men’s coach to record more than 300 wins at his current school.