Sunday, April 23, 2006

Valparaiso did not drop a set in two matches on Sunday afternoon as the Crusaders clinched their third straight Mid-Continent Conference regular season title defeating UMKC 5-0 and Chicago State 7-0 in Chicago, Ill.

With the wins, the Brown and Gold extended its regular season conference winning streak to 30 straight spanning the last four years.

Valpo got things going early against UMKC (0-13, 0-8 Mid-Con), dropping just one game in doubles. Jill Dierberg (Saint Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) and Charmaine Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) were 8-0 victors at first doubles while Lauren Kloostra (Wyoming, Mich./Calvin Christian H.S.) and Molly Keifer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) were 8-1 winners at the second spot. The Crusaders won third doubles by default.

In singles play against the Kangaroos, Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.), Stanislaw, and Jenny Schwartz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora H.S.) won 6-0, 6-0 each at second, fourth, and fifth singles respectively. Valpo also won by default at the sixth spot for the 5-0 win. Dierberg was leading 6-0, 4-1 at the top of the order and Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) held a 6-0, 3-0 lead at third singles when the match was halted.

The afternoon saw Valpo play just as strong on the way to the shutout. Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) and Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) posted an 8-6 triumph at first doubles while Chada and Evangelist cruised 8-0 at the second spot. Valpo again won third doubles by default.

While earning a win at sixth singles by default, Kloostra and Lindsey Gustafson (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) made sure Valpo earned the conference title outright with 6-0, 6-0 victories at fourth and fifth singles respectively. Janssen added a 6-2, 6-3 win at the top of the lineup while Sajevic won by the same score at second singles. Schwartz was a 6-4, 6-0 winner at the third spot to complete the sweep.

Valparaiso (13-7, 8-0) will now host the Mid-Continent Conference Women's Tennis Championship on Friday and Saturday at the Valparaiso University Tennis Complex. Official pairings and start times will be released on Monday.