Sunday, March 06, 2005

Valparaiso recorded its first victory of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Crusaders defeated Villanova 6-1 in Orlando, Fla.

The Crusaders opened taking the doubles point. Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Tim Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) teamed for an 8-5 win at the top spot while Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Shabi Khan (Karachi, Pakistan/Oasys H.S.) were 8-4 victors at the second spot. Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) fell 8-6 at third doubles.

In singles play, Villanova (0-4) managed just a win at fourth singles. Kooyers won 6-1, 6-4 at the first spot, while Dunham-Freer posted a 7-6, 6-1 victory at second singles. Venegas notched a 6-1, 6-2 win at third singles while at the fifth spot Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) was a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 winner. Wagner cruised a sixth singles 6-0, 6-0. Shideler dropped his match at fourth singles, but played two tie-breaks, falling 7-6, 7-6.

Valpo (1-6) will look for its second straight win on Monday afternoon, as the Crusaders battle Stetson. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CST in DeLand, Fla.