Valparaiso opened its final road trip of the season on Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 6-3 match to Indiana Wesleyan at the Sutter Tennis Center in Marion, Ind.

Playing the NAIA nine-point scoring system, the Crusaders picked up wins at second doubles as well as third and fifth singles.

Stephanie York (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown H.S.) and Kaitlyn Hamel (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain  H.S.) posted an 8-6 victory over Kristen Futrell and Rachael Heiniger at number two doubles.  Indiana Wesleyan (20-2) earned wins at each of the other two spots in the lineup.

Andrea Meyering and Lauren Wilson posted a 9-8 (7) tie-break victory at first doubles against Kristin Zakiewicz (Bristol, Ind./Northridge H.S.) and Megan Barthels (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central H.S.) while Aubrey Lohser and Diane Jones defeated Angelina Goheen (Aurora, Ill./Rosary H.S.) and Brittany O’Reilly (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest H.S.) 8-5 at the third spot.

Hamel also picked up a singles win, downing Wilson 6-3, 6-4 at number three while Zakiewicz rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (1), 11-9 win over Kim Mella at fifth singles. 

York fell 6-2, 6-2 against Heiniger at one while Bartels suffered a 6-0, 6-2 setback against Meyering at the second spot.  Lauren Kammerer (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) lost 6-0, 6-1 to Futrell at fourth singles while O’Reilly dropped a 6-3, 7-6 (6) match against Sarah Richert at the bottom of the order.

Valparaiso (4-15) will close out the season on Saturday afternoon in Chicago, Ill. facing UIC.  First serve is slated for 11 a.m.