Sept. 19, 2005

Contact: Brian Wolff

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SETTING THE SCENE: For the first time in this young season both the men's and women's team will be in action during the same weekend. The men host Duquesne in a dual meet, while the top two women's players, Sarah Galon and Abby Showalter, head to the University of Pennsylvania Invite where they will face some of the nation's top competition. The Vikings will be one of 13 teams to compete this weekend.

REVIEWING THE WEEK: The women completed a weekend that saw the Vikings win the back draw of all three flights at the Zips Invite in Akron, Ohio (9/16-17). Jenn Myers won the back draw of the "A" Flight, while Christine Vogelgesang took the "B" Flight and Morgan Ungerott and Kristin Chamberlain claimed the back draw doubles crown. Chamberlain went 2-0 during the first day of competition before losing in the quarterfinals of her flight.

REVIEWING THE MEN'S WEEK: The men started off the 2005 season with an 8-7 individual singles mark and went 4-5 individually in doubles play at the St. Bonaventure Invite (9/9-10). In his first tournament at CSU freshman Rob West won his flight at No. 2 singles, finishing 3-0. Senior Jay Tee went 2-1 on the weekend and advanced to the finals of his No. 3 flight. Freshman Steven Wipprecht finished 2-1 in his first tournament and junior Alex Livingstone picked up his first collegiate victory as a third-year team member.

HEAD COACH Brian Etzkin: In his fourth year with the Vikings, Brian Etzkin has the duty as head coach of both the men's and women's tennis programs. Etzkin, has shown much progress, especially on the women's side, being named Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2004. Last season, he coached Sarah Galon to Horizon League Player of the Year honors, the first time a Viking tennis player has won the award. On the men's side, he has coached the 2003 Horizon League Newcomer of The Year and players on both the first and second All-Horizon League teams.

ETZKIN ON THE WOMEN'S TEAM: "We had a very productive tournament in Akron where we took the back draw of all three flights. I am curious to see what Sarah [Galon] and Abby [Showalter] can do this weekend when they play some of the top players in the nation."

ETZKIN ON THE MEN'S TEAM: "The men have been off for a week, which is nice because we have been banged up a little bit. We are still a little thin with some lingering injuries and a player who will not be in until January. Some guys will be playing a little out of position on Friday against Duquesne, but it will be a challange for them and see how well they respond."

NEWCOMERS GETTING IT DONE: Two of the most impressive starts to the young season have been by Rob West and Kristin Chamberlain. West went a perfect 3-0 to win his flight at the St. Bonaventure Invite (9/9-10). Chamberlain went undefeated during the first day of singles play at the Zips Invite, finishing 2-0. Both of her wins were straight set victories. Chamberlain teamed up with Morgan Ungerott in doubles where they took the back draw of the doubles flight. The other newcomer on the women's side, Abby Showalter, will begin her season this weekend at the University of Pennsylvania Invite.

HAWAIIAN PUNCH: Junior Sarah Galon was the first Vikings' tennis player to win Horizon League Player of the Year honors, doing so last year. Galon earned the distinction after being named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year two seasons ago. She recorded a 6-1 mark in both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in Horizon League play last season while notching a 17-12 singles mark and a 16-8 doubles record on the season. She was the team leader in singles wins thanks in part to nine victories in her last 13 matches in 2004-05. Galon goes to the University of Pennsylvania Invite this weekend.

DOUBLE TIME: The No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams for the Vikings return this season after posting a combined 29-19 record in 2004-05. The No. 1 team of Sarah Galon and Morgan Ungerott went 16-8, winning five in a row from Feb. 25 through March 14. The No. 2 doubles unit of Jenn Myers and Christine Vogelgesang went 13-11 including a streak of five straight victories during the same period.

LIVINGSTONE NOTCHES FIRST CAREER WIN: Junior Alex Livingstone, a walk-on, won his first collegiate match on Sept. 9, defeating Zach Landgraf from Youngstown State in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. Livingstone previously had won several exhibition matches, but this was his first victory in tournament play. Last season, Livingstone went 0-2 in tournaments and lost his only match at the No. 6 singles position.

TEEING OFF: A three-time All-Horizon League second team selection, senior Jay Tee is in his fourth season as a member of the Vikings. Tee finished his first tournament of the season as a finalist in his flight with a 2-1 singles record. He teamed up with junior Dan Singer to post a record of 2-1 in doubles. Tee ended last season with a 6-10 singles record, spending most of the time at No. 2 singles. Tee also finished the year with a 7-6 doubles record, playing with three different partners over the course of the season. When he is not on the court, Tee serves as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The committee is presently coordinating a campus-wide effort to supply relief to those who were affected in the Gulf area by Hurricane Katrina.

UP NEXT: Both Viking teams will be off until Sunday, Oct. 9 when they host dual matches with IPFW at 12:00 p.m. and St. Francis (PA) at 5:00 p.m.