Despite winning the doubles point on Saturday evening, Valparaiso’s men’s tennis team dropped a 5-2 decision to IUPUI at the Indianapolis Tennis Center in Indianapolis, Ind.

“I’m disappointed with tonight’s result,” head coach Jim Daugherty said.  “It’s a tough match to lose.  I thought we would be coming into the match a little more confident.  Instead we were a little off our game.” 

The Crusaders began by rallying to win the opening doubles point.  Kyle Stump (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth H.S.) and Arne Deihle (Reutlingen, Germany/Johannes Kepler H.S.) defeated Bren Vasalakis and Gregory Sosa 8-4 at third doubles to start the match.  IUPUI’s Nick Volz and Deon Shafer tied doubles with an 8-4 win over Adam Whitmer (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) and Chris Baum (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.).  Tom Litscher (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial H.S.) and Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) rallied to defeat Daniel Klingenberg and Jorge Yunes in a tie-break 9-8 (4) to take the point.

“Number one doubles was definitely a positive today,” Daugherty added.  “We came from behind and rallied to win not only that match, but also the doubles point.”

IUPUI (1-6) won two three-set matches in singles play as well as two other sets in tie-breaks.  Litscher posted Valpo’s lone win, a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Sosa at the third spot.  Shafer posted a 6-2, 7-6 (6) win for the Jaguars against Whitmer at the top of the order while Klingenberg was a 6-2, 7-6 (3) winner against Stump at two singles.  Volz downed Buam 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-3 at the fourth spot while Yunes was a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victor against DeHerrera at number five.  Joel Modesitt topped Sidderth Mehta (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.) 6-1, 6-4 at sixth singles.

Valparaiso (1-3) will return to the courts next Saturday against the Rockets of Toledo. First serve is set for 7 p.m. CST in Toledo, Ohio.