Green Bay Captures First Horizon League Men's Tennis Championship

Men’s Tennis Championship:
(2) Green Bay 4, (4) Cleveland State 1

INDIANAPOLIS -- In one of the most competitive Horizon League Men’s Tennis Championships in recent memory, it was the Green Bay Phoenix knocking off four-time defending champion Cleveland State, 4-1, to capture the program’s first tennis title at the Barbara Wynne Tennis Center on the campus of North Central High School.

The No. 2 seed, Green Bay (19-6) was nearly pushed to the limit by a Cleveland State (12-12) squad playing its best tennis at the end of the season. Three singles matches went to three sets, with the Phoenix capturing the first two to set off a wild celebration.

With sun appearing on the wind-swept courts, Green Bay collected what would prove to be a pivotal point when the Phoenix captured the opening doubles matches. At No. 1, Erik Finkenbrink and Craig Cox gave Green Bay a shot of momentum, rolling to an 8-2 win. With Yannick Goossens and Matt Ford trying to level doubles at No. 2, Felix Goepper and Henning Jess held off a fierce Cleveland State rally to seal the point with an 8-6 victory.

Cleveland State would quickly knot the match in singles play, as Jorg Van Der Vloet rolled past Goepper, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5, setting the stage for an extremely competitive round of singles play.

Finkenbrink would restore Green Bay’s lead, collecting a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 3. With the other matches either headed to third sets or threatening to go that way, the result remained in doubt, but Craig Cox helped turn the match in the Phoenix’s favor, rallying from a 3-6 defeat in his opening set to win the last two, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 4 and  put Green Bay up, 3-1.

Moments later, freshman Michael Tenzer sealed Green Bay’s trip to the NCAA Tournament, winning three of the last four games to post a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory at No. 2.

Green Bay will find out its NCAA Tournament destination at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 1, during the NCAA Selection Show on NCAA.com.

(2) Green Bay 4, (4) Cleveland State 1
April 29, 2012 | Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central H.S.)
Horizon League Men’s Tennis Championship

Doubles:
No. 1 – Erik Finkenbrink/Craig Cox (GB) def. Nolan Marks/Ali Shabib (CSU) 8-2
No. 2 – Michael Tenzer/Michael Tebon (GB) vs. Yannick Goossens/Matt Ford (CSU) 5-7
No. 3 – Felix Goepper/Henning Jess (GB) def. Matt Kuelker/Jorg Van Der Vloet (CSU) 8-6

Singles:
No. 1 – Paul Swanson (GB) vs. Yannick Goossens (CSU) 6-3, 3-4 dnf
No. 2 – Michael Tenzer (GB) def. Matt Kuelker (CSU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
No. 3 – Erik Finkenbrink (GB) def. Nolan Marks (CSU) 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 – Craig Cox (GB) def. Ali Shabib (CSU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
No. 5 – Jorg Van Der Vloet (CSU) def. Felix Goepper (GB) 6-3, 6-3
No. 6 – Christoph Hopfe (GB) vs. Matt Ford (CSU) 3-6, 7-5 dnf