Saturday, January 22, 2005

Valparaiso dropped a tough road match on Saturday afternoon, falling 7-0 to DePaul in Chicago.

DePaul (2-2) won all three doubles matches and swept the singles, but need three sets in three of the contests to do so.

Valpo's Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) fell 8-4 at first doubles, while Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) lost by the same score at the second spot. Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) and Blain Keller (Muncie, Ind./Delta H.S.) dropped an 8-5 match at third doubles.

In singles play, Kooyers fell 6-4, 6-1 at the top spot, while Dunham-Freer rallied from a set down to force a third set before falling 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 playing second in the line-up. Venegas dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision at third singles, while Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) won the first set before losing 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Shideler fell 6-4, 6-4 at fifth singles, while Wagner also forced a third set before dropping a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 match at the sixth spot.

Valpo (0-3) will take a week off before returning to action on February 6 as the Crusaders head to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a neutral site match against Michigan State. First serve is set for 3 p.m. CST.