Friday, April 16, 2004

Valparaiso saw its 2004 season come to a close on Friday morning as the Crusaders dropped a 4-1 match to IUPUI in the Mid-Continent Conference semifinals held in Tulsa, Okla.

The regular season champion Jaguars opened the match winning at second and third doubles to take the first point of the match. Jay Adams (Detroit, Mich./Andover H.S.) and Evan Roller (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem H.S) fell 8-2 at the third spot, while Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Joe Venegas (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North H.S.) dropped an 8-3 match in the middle spot. Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Jeff Vrabel (Allen Park, Mich./St. Francis Cabrini H.S.) were even in their first doubles match 7-7 when the contest was stopped.

IUPUI (10-10) increased its lead to 3-0 with victories at fifth and sixth singles as Adams fell 6-2, 6-3 and Roller dropped a 6-2, 6-2 contest. Dunham-Freer cut the deficit to two with his 6-4, 6-2 triumph at the top spot, downing Luke Recker, whom he fell to in league play a week ago. The Jaguars closed out the match with a win at the second spot though, as Brian Slack downed Kooyers 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Vrabel led his third singles contest 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 and Venegas trailed at fourth singles 5-7, 6-4, 3-1 when those contests were haulted.

IUPUI advances to the Mid-Con title match on Saturday against Oral Roberts. Valpo's season concludes with a 6-15 record.