The Valparaiso University men’s tennis team enjoyed its second 7-0 win of the season on Friday afternoon, dispatching Eastern Illinois 7-0 at Match Point Tennis Club in Griffith, Ind. The Crusaders won both doubles matches that finished and were victorious on all six singles courts en route to their first home win of the season.

How It Happened

• Kweisi Kenyatte (Detroit, Mich. / East English Village Preparatory) and Garrett Gardner (Poland, Ohio / Poland) played at No. 1 doubles for the first time this season. They topped Freddie O’Brien and Trent Reiman 6-4, a win that secured the doubles point.
• On the No. 3 doubles court, it was Franklin Brozovich (Fort Gratiot, Mich. / Port Huron Northern) and Brian Pecyna (Glen Ellyn, Ill. / Homeschooled) teaming up for a 6-2 win over Grant Reiman and Logan Charbonneau.
• Kissell continued to lead the way for the Crusaders in singles, earning a 4-6, 6-1, 10-2 win over O’Brien at No. 1.
• The Crusaders also gained a victory on the No. 2 singles court, where Kenyatte downed Charbonneau 6-4, 6-1.
• Gardner was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Grant Reiman at No. 3, while Gabriel Carvajal (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Broward Virtual School [Florida Atlantic]) picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win over Trent Reiman at No. 4.
• Pecyna dispatched Gage Kingsmith 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5, while Brozovich chipped into the clean sweep for the Crusaders with a perfect 6-0, 6-0 showing against Jared Woodson.

Inside the Match

• Kissell and O’Brien faced off in a rematch of the fall season. Kissell was a repeat winner, having beaten O’Brien in straight sets in September.
• Kissell’s singles win was the 59^th of his Crusader career, a mark that ranks eighth in program history. He needs 10 more to enter a sixth-place tie. Kissell is 12-3 on the season and 5-0 in dual play. The first set on Friday was the first he’s dropped all spring, but he responded by winning Sets 2 and 3 in lopsided fashion.
• Gardner gained his 68^th career singles win, which ranks seventh in program history. His next triumph will allow him to join Eric Honert (2010-2014) and Michael Savaglio (2012-2016) in a tie for fifth all-time.
• Kenyatte and Kissell now share the team lead in wins with 12 apiece. Carvajal’s triumph was his 11^th on the season.
• In doubles, Gardner garnered his 62^nd career win, which ranks sixth in program history. He’s one doubles win away from tying Nick Vuko (1998-2002) for fifth.
• This marked the second straight season the Crusaders have beaten Eastern Illinois 7-0.

Up Next

The Crusaders continue a busy weekend with the second of three matches on Saturday afternoon against DePaul. The match is slated to begin at 3:15 p.m. CT at Lakeshore Sport & Fitness Club in Chicago.