Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Valparaiso University head men's tennis coach Jim Daugherty has announced that the Crusaders will play in four events during the 2005 fall season in addition to an exhibition tournament against Valpo alumni players.

The fall slate begins September 16-18 as the Crusaders head to Muncie, Ind. for the Ball State Fall Invitational. The following weekend, the Brown and Gold will head to Peoria, Ill. for the Bradley Invitational for the third straight year.

The annual Alumni Tournament, which matches current Crusaders against their former teammates, will take place October 8, during Homecoming weekend at Valparaiso. Last season, the current team avenged a 2003 loss to the alumni with a thrilling 10-5 victory.

Valpo will head to the Marquette Invitational on October 14 and 15 to compete in the event for the first time before selected individuals head to the ITA Midwest Regional Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. October 20-23 to wrap up the fall season.

Daugherty's Crusaders finished the 2005 spring campaign with a 9-13 mark overall, including a 5-1 Mid-Continent Conference record, finishing second. Valparaiso advanced to the Mid-Con Tournament title match before falling 4-1 to Oral Roberts. Daugherty's squad returns eight players from last year's team, including five of the top six singles players.