Saturday, September 14, 2002

The Valparaiso men's tennis team opened the season Friday and Saturday competing in an unscored invitational at Bradley University.

On Friday evening, the Crusaders battled the host Braves, while facing Eastern Illinois and Creighton on Saturday.

Against Bradley, Tyler Neemann (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson H.S.) recorded the Crusaders lone singles victory at the fourth slot by a score of 6-2, 1-6, (10-8). Neemann also teamed with Nathan Gordon (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth H.S.) to register an 8-5 win at third doubles.

In the dual against Eastern Illinois, Valpo won four of the six singles contests and two of the three doubles matches. Chris Widmeyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller H.S.) was a 4-6, 6-2, (10-4) winner at third singles while Neemann registered a 6-0, 6-4 win at fourth singles. Mike Menghini (Iron Mountain, Mich./Iron Mountain H.S.) won 6-2, 6-2 at the fifth spot, while Evan Roller (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem H.S.) rounded out the line-up with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Widmeyer and Menghini teamed for an 8-7 (5) win at second doubles, while Neemann and Gordon were 8-1 winners at third doubles.

Against Creighton, Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) picked up Valpo's lone singles win 6-4, 6-7, (10-5) at the top spot. The Crusaders also won third doubles by default.

Valpo will return to the courts next weekend when the Brown and Gold travel to the Eastern Illinois Fall Invitational Friday through Sunday.