The Cleveland State men's tennis team was back in action Saturday, battling to a thrilling 4-3 victory at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana.

"This was a great team win,” head coach Brian Etzkin said. “Our doubles continues to be a strength for us." 

"We had some great singles performances from Cole (Chappell), Devin (Boyer) and Lincoln (Battle) to lead us during singles play," Etzkin added. But "we still have a lot more growing to do and we are excited for the next one!"

The Vikings set the tone early. The pairs of Carl Gedlitschka and Battle, and Maxime Aremon and Tristan Stine each recorded 6-2 wins to secure the doubles point.

Ball State responded with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles to take a brief lead before Chappell evened the score with a 6-0, 6-3 victory in the No. 5 singles.

Cleveland State took a 3-2 edge in the team score with a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory from Boyer at the No. 6 singles. But BSU fought back to even the score at 3-3 with a win in the No. 4 singles.

Battle clinched the match for the Vikings with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win at the top of the singles lineup. The win moved CSU to 5-3 for the season.

Cleveland State will return to the court next week with road matches against Xavier and Dayton.

Box score

Singles

1. Lincoln Battle (CSU) def. Jacks Lancaster (BSU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 

2. Andrei Caragea (BSU) def. Nico Jamison (CSU), 6-2, 6-4 

3. Andrew Hayward (BSU) def. Carl Gedlitschka (CSU), 6-2, 6-1 

4. Zackary Kimelman (BSU) def. Maxime Aremon (CSU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 

5. Cole Chappell (CSU) def. Broc Fletcher (BSU), 6-0, 6-3 

6. Devin Boyer (CSU) def. Nolan Hayward (BSU), 6-3, 7-6(2) 

Doubles

1. Battle/Gedlitschka (CSU) def. Hayward/Hayward (BSU), 6-2

2. Aremon/Stine (CSU) def. Lancaster/Caragea (BSU), 6-2

3. Jamison/Chappell (CSU) vs. Fletcher/Bicanic (BSU), 5-4, unfinished