The Crusader men's tennis team dropped their first road match of the season 5-2 Saturday at the Butler Bubble in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs won the doubles point thanks to Sam O'Neill and Billy Weldon's 6-1 win at No. 1 over Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Danny Oakes (Elburn, Ill./Saint Charles North) coupled with Brandon Woods and Pulok Bhattacharya's 6-3 victory at No. 3 against Eric Honert (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) and Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli). 

Valpo tied the overall match at 1-1 after Bacalla handed O'Neill a 6-1, 6-4 defeat at No. 2 singles. Bhattacharya downed Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) 6-3, 6-2 in the match between No. 1 singles players.

Woods eked out a 6-5, 6-4 win over Honert at No. 4 before Butler clinched the match with an Austin Woldmoe three-set win over Michael Savaglio (Kenosha, Wis./Mary D. Bradford). Savaglio battled back to take the second set 6-4 after dropping the first 6-1. Woldmoe seized the match with a 6-1 third set.

Freshman Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) claimed the other singles point for the Brown and Gold with a 6-1, 1-6, 10-7 triumph at No. 5.

Fellow freshman Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) lost a three-setter to Tommy Marx 6-2, 1-6, 10-4 at No. 6 singles.

Valpo will be back in action next Saturday when it hosts Marian and Grace in a doubleheader at the Courts of NWI.