Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Valparaiso recorded its first road victory of the season on Tuesday afternoon defeating instate foe IPFW 5-2 in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Crusaders started off strong, sweeping doubles play. Alex Lau (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Senior H.S.) and Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) posted a 9-8 (4) tie-break victory at the top of the order while Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) earned an 8-4 victory at the second spot. David Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) completed the sweep with their 8-6 triumph at third doubles.

Valpo also controlled singles play against IPFW (6-12), winning four matches in straight sets. Kooyers earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory at the top of the line-up while Lau cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the third spot. Shidleer won his match by that same score at fifth singles while Wagner needed a second set tie-break in his 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory.

The Mastodons' Hermann Kuschke defeated Venegas in three sets 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 at second singles while Arturo Algando was a 6-1, 7-5 victor at the fourth spot.

Valparaiso (3-10) will return to action on Friday afternoon as the Crusaders host future Horizon League foe Butler. The match has been moved indoors and will be played at Matchpoint in Griffith, Ind. First serve is set for 1 p.m.