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Senior Pjotrs Necajevs (Riga, Latvia/Herdera Vidusskola) might have taken the final step in securing his place as the best men's tennis player in the Horizon League as he won a thrilling three-set match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2, over Cleveland State's Phil Orno on Saturday morning as the Titans dropped a 5-2 decision to the Vikings.

Necajevs, who was named the 2009 HL Player of the Year after going 7-0 in conference play, improved to 28-4 on the season and 6-0 in the league, all at No. 1. He also avenged an earlier loss to Orno, the 2008 HL Player of the Year, in the fall season and is now 2-1 lifetime against CSU's top netter.

Necajevs also led the way at No. 1 doubles teaming with freshman Chris Cheung (Mississauga, ON/Erindale Secondary) for an 8-5 win over Orno and Ryan Hamning.

In singles, freshman Cesar Escobar Serrano (Merliot, El Salvador/Educame) had the only other victory with a come from behind 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 effort against Hamning at No. 3.

Detroit (7-11, 1-5 HL) almost pulled even closer with the regular season champion Vikings (17-6, 7-0 HL) as Cheung was held off at No. 6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, while both the No. 2 and 3 doubles fell, 8-4.

The Titan netters will end the regular season tomorrow when the red, white and blue host Youngstown State at the Titan Tennis Complex. It will be a festive day as Detroit honors its two seniors in Necajevs and Patrick Troy (Beverly Hills, MI/Brother Rice).