Feb. 3, 2007

Contact: Josh Rattray

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Vikings won at Nos. 3, 4 and 6 singles and capture the doubles point to edge Niagara, 4-3, in a match that last nearly four hours. The Vikings are now 5-1 on the season.

CSU won the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles, as freshmen combo Ryan Hamning and Phil Orno upped their record to 12-2 with a 9-8 (5) win over Marc Dickinson and Justin McConkey and junior Brad Groleski and senior Dan Singer rolled to an 8-3 win over Walter Garcia and Alexander Abji.

The Purple Eagles controlled the top of the lineup with wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles from Walter and Erick Garcia, respectively. Walter Garcia beat Orno in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1) his brother Erick ran past Groleski 6-3, 6-2.

The Vikings won three of the remaining four matches, with Singer and sophomore Rob West winning in three sets. Singer dropped the first stanza in his No. 4 singles match against Roman Silin, 1-6, before taking the second two sets 7-5, 6-2 and winning a key point in the match.

"Dan played like a senior, holding it together and focusing mentally," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "His win was the turning point tonight."

Hamning made quick work of McConkey at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-1 and West won 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 over Dickinson.

Sophomore Steven Wipprecht fell 6-3, 6-4 to Alexander Abji at No.5 singles.

"It was a good win for us and it will do wonders for our confidence," Etzkin said.

DOUBLES RESULTS

Hamning/Orno def. Dickinson/McConkey (NU) - 9-8 (5)

E.Garcia/Silin (NU) def. West/Wipprecht - 8-7 (4)

Groleski/Singer def. Abji/W. Garcia (NU) - 8-5

SINGLES RESULTS

Walter Garcia (NU) def. Phil Orno - 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1)

Erick Garcia (NU) def. Brad Groleski - 6-3, 6-2

Ryan Hamning def. Justin McConkey (NU) - 6-3, 6-1

Dan Singer def. Roman Silin (NU) - 1-6, 7-5, 6-2

Alexander Abji (NU) def. Steven Wipprecht - 6-3, 6-4

Rob West def. Marc Dickinson (NU) - 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3