As the country's top talent assembles in Tulsa this week, the Valpo men's tennis team continues to take the leap from a regional power to a fixture at the national level.

Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg), who boasts the 119th ranking in the nation, planted Valpo's flag a little firmer Monday. The junior rallied back for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 triumph versus Felipe Rios, the 83rd-ranked singles player in the country in the opening round of the ITA All-American Qualifying Draw. The victory launches Schorsch into the 2nd round of the elite tournament, where he'll take on TCU's Trevor Johnson Tuesday morning at 10:30 am CT.  

Schorsch is no stranger to scoring wins over nationally-ranked opponents. He and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) recorded a 6-4 win against Michigan State's Mac Roy and Michael Dube, the 37th-ranked doubles team in the country just nine days ago at the Vredevelt Invite in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Emhardt represented Valpo well, too, Monday. Bacalla and San Diego's Jordan Angus went back and forth before the Torero escaped with a 6-4, 6-2 win. He'll square off against Tulsa's Juan Matias Gonzalez Tuesday morning in a consolation match.

Emhardt was saddled with a difficult draw, but played Georgia's Ben Wagland tight. Emhardt fell 7-5, 6-1, to the nation's 111th-ranked player in their first round match. The Crusader junior then drew the 88th-ranked David Biosca in his consolation tilt. Emhardt seized the first set in a tiebreaker, but the ETSU standout rallied for a 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 win. 

Bacalla and freshman Chad Kissell (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) learned the identity of their Round of 128 doubles opponents. The Crusader tandem will challenge Troy's duo of Pablo Moreno and Giovani Samaha at 1:00 pm CT on Tuesday.

Schorsch and Emhardt will not begin their quest for a main draw title until Thursday. The draws for that portion of the tournament have yet to be released.