Cleveland State's Haley, UIC's Knoppe Take Home Horizon League Tennis Athlete of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Cleveland State senior John Haley (San Antonio, Texas) has earned Horizon League Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors, while UIC freshman Jana Knoppe (Ihringen, Germany) has received Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.

Though the Vikings went 1-1 last week, Haley went 2-0 in singles play, helping Cleveland State to a 5-2 win at Xavier on Friday, Feb. 11, and picking up the squad’s lone point in a 6-1 setback at No. 12 Kentucky on Sunday, Feb. 13.

Playing at No. 5 singles versus the Musketeers, Haley swept his opponent, taking a first set tiebreak, 7-6 (4), before winning by two breaks in the second set, 6-4.  In doubles, Haley teamed with Rob Fox at No. 1 to record a key 9-8 (5) win, helping the Vikings pick up the first point in the match.

48 hours later, Haley moved up to No. 4 singles, fighting off three match points in the second set to rally for a 7-5 set win to even the match.  Haley recorded the early breaks in the third to record the win, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Knoppe did not drop a set in three contests this week as UIC went 3-0 with victories over Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois and Chicago State.  The freshman was 3-0 at No. 4 singles and 1-0 at No. 3 doubles on the weekend.

Against Northern Illinois, Knoppe swept her opponent at love in singles before teaming with Kathryn Sharples for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.  Knoppe dropped a total of four games in her Saturday morning triumph over Southern Illinois in a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set win before recording a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the evening session against Chicago State.

Cleveland State is off this week before resuming its spring season on Feb. 24 at Ohio State.  UIC heads to Kalamazoo, Mich., for matches on Feb. 26-27.  The Flames will meet Western Michigan on Saturday before a Sunday match versus IPFW.