Tennis Release #14
April 22, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Championship Brackets
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Phil Orno
Cleveland State
Sophomore
Snekkersten, Denmark
Orno went 4-0 for the second-straight week, defeating Alex Lau of Valparaiso (6-2, 6-3) and Adriano Liccardo of UIC (6-2, 6-1) at No. 1 singles and helping the Vikings secure the top seed for the upcoming championship. The CSU sophomore has now won 17 consecutive singles matches, and is undefeated in League play. Orno also paired with Ryan Hamning at No. 1 doubles to defeat the top duos from Valpo and UIC.
Ilinca Cristescu
UIC
Freshman
Bensenville, Ill.
Cristescu did not give up more than two points in any of her three singles victories at the No. 1 position. She defeated Milwaukee's Kelly Drvaric (6-0, 6-2), Butler's Molly Casperson (6-0, 6-1) and Cleveland State's Jackie Tabb (6-1, 6-2).She also paired with Jenna Reisch to complete an undefeated League season in doubles while guiding the Flames to their 100th-consecutive League triumph on Saturday (Apr. 19) as they defeated Butler 5-2.
Other Men's Top Performers
Ben Raynauld
Butler
Sophomore, Montreal, Quebec
Raynauld scored a win in singles and doubles competition at UIC on Friday (Apr. 18) by teaming with Brandon Bayliss at No. 2 doubles for a 9-7 victory, and defeating Sebastian Lystad at No. 2 singles (6-2, 6-2).
Bastian Harbo
UIC
Sophomore, Oslo, Norway
Harbo defeated Butler's Chris Herron at No. 3 singles on Friday and paired with Adriano Liccardo to defeat Herron and Eric Breitenbach at No. 1 doubles (9-7), giving UIC the 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs. Butler suffered its first regular season loss in 49 matches.
Kyle Stump
Valparaiso
Freshman, Plymouth, Ind.
Stump went 2-1 in singles play at the sixth spot last week, including a 4-6, 6-4,11-9 victory over Sean Kreymborg of UIC to give the Crusaders their only point of the match. Against Cleveland State on Saturday, Stump paired with Dan Brunette to win their doubles match 9-8 (5). On Monday (Apr. 21), Stump defeated his IPFW opponent in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).
Other Women's Top Performers
Michelle Hawes
Butler
Senior, Columbus, Ind.
Hawes won her 10th straight singles match on Saturday, scoring a 6-3, 6-3 win over UIC's Jenna Reisch at the No. 6 position. Against IUPUI three days earlier, Hawes teamed with Tiffany McLoughlin to win at No. 2 doubles (8-1).
Charlotte Gibbons
Cleveland State
Sophomore, Irchester, England
Gibbons defeated Valpo's Christine Antrobus (6-0, 6-0) and UIC's Grace Gill-Morlis (6-4, 6-2) at No. 4 singles last week. She also teamed with Morgan Ungerott to defeat the No. 2 doubles team from Valpo (8-1).
Annie Moore
Detroit
Junior, St. Clair, Mich.
Moore went undefeated last week as Detroit posted a pair of League victories. She downed Valpo's Molly Keifer (6-4, 6-2) and Youngstown State's Emily Thayer (6-3, 6-2), both at No. 3 singles. Moore and Zeljka Minic also scored doubles wins against both Youngstown State (8-3) and Valparaiso (8-1).
Kelly Drvaric
Milwaukee
Sophomore, Waukesha, Wis.
Drvaric helped the Panthers to a 6-1 season-ending victory over in-state rival Green Bay by defeating Emily Lawent 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 singles. Drvaric now has 15 singles wins and 19 doubles victories overall.
MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
#1 Cleveland State (16-5, 5-1)
The Cleveland State University men's tennis team finished in first-place in the League standings, and posted more overall victories than any other League team. With 16 wins, the Vikings have earned the top seed after a tiebreak put them ahead of UIC and Butler. Cleveland State will be lead by sophomore star Phil Orno, who has won 17 consecutive singles matches this season at No. 1 as the Vikings look to improve upon their third-place finish last year. CSU plays the winner of Wright State-Green Bay on Saturday.
#2 UIC (13-9, 5-1)
The University of Illinois at Chicago Flames are seeded second in this weekend's championship and will face seventh-seeded Youngstown State on Saturday. After three consecutive runner-up team finishes, the Flames look to win their first-ever League championship. Behind Norwegian natives Bastian Harbo, Sebastian Lystad, and Adriano Liccardo, the UIC men's team is poised to be very competitive, and looks to avenge a 5-2 loss to Cleveland State last Sunday.
#3 Butler (11-11, 5-1)
The Butler University men's tennis team is looking for its seventh consecutive Horizon League championship. The Bulldgos finished the season with a 5-1 League mark, an 11-11 overall ledger and the third seed after a tiebreak put Cleveland State and UIC ahead of Butler. Senior Eric Breitenbach and freshman Chris Herron have teamed up at the No. 1 doubles spot to post a 10-6 record. Butler faces sixth-seeded Valparaiso on Saturday.
#4 Green Bay (11-11, 3-3)
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men are the fourth seed for the tournament after posting a 3-3 League record this season. The Phoenix hope to improve upon their fifth-place finish at last year's championship. Seniors Tim Prudlow and Mark Goldin will lead the way against #5 Wright State on Saturday.
#5 Wright State (2-19, 2-4)
Wright State University's men's team enters the Horizon League Championship as the fifth-seed and will face #4 Green Bay on Saturday. Behind the play of senior Tony Teufel and junior Nick Camilleri, first-year head coach Nate Reinhart hopes the men's team will improve upon its fourth-place finish in 2007.
#6 Valparaiso (5-12, 1-5)
The Valparaiso University Crusaders enter their inaugural Horizon League championship as the sixth-seed, and prepare to face in-state rival Butler on Saturday. Junior Alex Lau leads the Crusaders at the No. 1 position as the team tries to make their first League championship a success.
#7 Youngstown State (2-12, 0-6)
Youngstown State University rounds out the pack as the seventh seed for this weekend's tournament. Looking to improve upon last year's sixth-place finish, the Penguins are led by seniors Scott Kathary and Ryan Trapp, who have teamed at No. 1 doubles to register nine victories, a team-best.
WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
#1 UIC (14-5, 8-0)
The University of Illinois at Chicago women's team enters the Horizon League tournament in search of its 11th-straight championship. The Flames made history last weekend, posting their 100th-consecutive League match victory on Saturday when it defeated Butler 5-2. UIC has not lost a League match since April 21, 1996 when it fell to Green Bay in the championship match of the League tournament. The Flames are led by newcomer Ilinca Cristescu, who is undefeated in the League at No. 1 singles and has a 16-4 record overall.
#2 Butler (12-8, 7-1)
The Butler University Bulldogs enter the championship as the second seed, in hopes of capturing their first-ever Horizon League championship after eight runner-up finishes in the past nine seasons. The Bulldogs will rely on last season's Newcomer of the Year Molly Casperson and a group of talented freshmen to guide them to victory.
#3 Detroit (9-10, 5-3)
The University of Detroit Mercy women's tennis team enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Titans are an experienced bunch, with only one freshman in the lineup. Junior Zeljka Minic comes into the post season with a 16-2 record in singles play.
#4 Cleveland State (16-7, 5-3)
Cleveland State University's women's team is seeded fourth after posting the most overall victories (16) in the League this season. Behind a competitive group of freshmen, including No. 1 singles player Melissa Holzinger, the Vikings look to improve upon last year's third-place finish. CSU squares off against #9 Valparaiso on Friday.
#5 Youngstown State (7-15, 4-4)
Youngstown State University's women's tennis players come into League tournament play as the #5 seed and are set to face #8 Green Bay on Friday. Led by junior Anna Volkova, the Penguins will try to improve upon their seventh-place finish last season.
#6 Milwaukee (10-10, 4-3)
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers begin this year's League championship as the sixth seed. Without a single senior on the roster, the young Panthers hope to make a name for themselves in this year's tournament. Sophomores Kelly Drvaric and Kari Kastenholz will lead the group at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively.
#7 Wright State (2-16, 1-6)
The Raiders of Wright State University will be the seventh seed in this year's League championship. Facing #6 Milwaukee on Friday, the Raiders will look to seniors Jessica Lee and Christa Ames for leadership and they try to better last year's sixth-place performance.
#8 Green Bay (1-14, 1-6)
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women's tennis team hopes to score its best showing at the League championships since its 1998 runner-up finish to UIC. Seeded eighth, the Phoenix will face Youngstown State on Friday and will look to newcomer Emily Lawent to guide them to victory.
#9 Valparaiso (2-15, 0-8)
The Valparaiso University Crusaders enter their first Horizon League championship as the ninth seed. Despite having lost each regular season match, the Crusaders hope to have an impact on the brackets in the tournament. Behind junior Kim Sajevic, they will take on #4 Cleveland State on Friday afternoon.
