YSU's Mistreanu, Brendel Collect Tennis Honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Youngstown State sophomore Silviu Mistreanu (Iasi, Romania/High School Sport Program) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week, while Penguins freshman Annina Brendel (Hagenbach, Germany/Europa-Gymnasium Worth) has earned Women’s Tennis honors, for the week of Feb. 11-17. The accolade is the first of both players’ careers.

The Youngstown State men’s team (3-3) started the week with a 5-2 loss at Western Michigan before rolling to three consecutive wins. The Penguins knocked off Robert Morris, 7-0, and Chicago State, 6-1, on Saturday, before holding off IPFW, 4-3, on Sunday.

On the same road trip, the Youngstown State women (5-2) took all four matches, defeating host Western Michigan, 4-3, before consecutive 7-0 victories over Robert Morris and Chicago State. The Penguins capped the unbeaten run with a 4-3 win at IPFW.

Mistreanu mirrored YSU’s results, dropping his first match at No. 1 singles before winning his remaining three. Losing 2-6, 2-6 against Western Michigan, the sophomore won all three of his remaining matches in straight sets, knocking off opponents from Robert Morris and Chicago State by identical 6-2, 6-2 scores. Mistreanu finished the week with a 7-6, 6-2 win over his opponent from IPFW.

In doubles play, Mistreanu teamed with Felipe Rosa to go 3-1. The pair went 3-0 at No. 3 doubles before falling in their final match of the weekend at No. 1.

Brendel posted a perfect record in singles play, handling matches both at No. 5 and No. 6. In Youngstown State’s 4-3 win over Western Michigan, Brendel played the decisive match at No. 6, rallying from a set behind to snap a 3-3 tie with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory to give YSU the win. Brendel would win both of her matches on Saturday in straight sets, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles versus Robert Morris ahead of a 6-1, 7-5 victory at No. 6 in the nightcap. The freshman wrapped her weekend with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win against IPFW at No. 6.

Brendel partnered with Carolyn Jesko at No. 2 doubles in all four matches, recording a 2-2 mark. The pair grabbed wins over Robert Morris, 8-3, and Chicago State, 8-0, while falling to competition from Western Michigan and IPFW.

The Youngstown State women’s team will be in action on Saturday, Feb. 23, welcoming Ball State to the Boardman Tennis Center. The match will begin at 5 p.m. EST. The Penguin men will be off until Wednesday, Feb. 27, when they host the University of Dayton at the Boardman Tennis Center. The match will begin at 12 p.m. EST.

Men’s Tennis Athletes of the Week:
January 15:      Michal Lyzwa, Wright State
January 22:      Maurizio Feoli, UIC