March 11, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

By Justin Warren
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After a much-needed victory Saturday, the Colorado State tennis team is set to begin its spring break in Fullerton, Calif., facing Cal State Fullerton and Houston, Monday and Thursday.

The Rams (4-6, 0-0 Mountain West) got back into the win column with a 5-2 victory at home against Saint Louis, after five straight losses on the road. With Saturday’s victory, CSU also remains undefeated at home. Now the Rams will hit the road again.

“In our course of the last match and the next couple of matches, I think we have got a pretty clear focus on what we need to get better at,” Head Coach Jon Messick said. “The win last weekend was a step in that direction. We are just hoping to continue that over the next couple of matches so that we get our level of play up for our conference matches.”

Saturday, junior Caitlin Fluegge sparked the momentum for CSU with a long three-set win at the No. 3 singles position. Immediately after Fluegge’s victory, Melissa Holzinger clinched the win for the Rams at the No. 6 position, defeating her opponent in two sets.

CSU was also able to overcome its doubles drought, taking the doubles point, in dominate fashion, for the first time since Jan. 30.

CSU will face off against Cal State Fullerton (1-5, 0-3 Big West Conference) Monday at 3 p.m. MT. The Titans have dropped their last three matches, which have been against conference opponents. Cal State Fullerton has had trouble in most of its matches this season, being swept by its opponents in four of its five losses.

Thursday, the Rams will play their second opponent of the week, the Houston Cougars (5-3, 0-1 Conference USA). The Cougars come into the matchup off a much-needed victory over Arkansas-Little Rock, 4-3, Sunday. Houston will have a long trip in California, facing three teams Sunday-Wednesday before competing against the Rams.