Sunday, September 10, 2006

Valparaiso opened the 2006 fall tennis season on Saturday and Sunday with several top performances at the DePauw Invitational held in Greencastle, Ind.

Senior Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) finished runner-up in the top singles flight while Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) also finished third in the same bracket. Janssen posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the first round before rallying from a set down for a three-set victory in the semifinals. She eventually fell in the championship to Liz Bondi of DePauw 7-5, 6-3. Evangelist was a straight sets winner in both her first round match and third place match but fell to Bondi in the semifinals.

Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) finished third for the Crusaders in the second singles flight, posting a pair of straight set triumphs. She fell in the semifinals to Greer Mackie of DePauw, the eventual flight champion.

Freshman Julie Wingstrom (Wolcotville, Ind./Westview H.S.) had an impressive Valpo debut, finishing third in the fourth singles flight. Wingstrom posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the first round and a 6-3, 6-2 win in the third place match.

Lauren Kloostra (Wyoming, Mich./Calvin Christian H.S.) also earned a third place singles finish in the sixth flight. The sophomore cruised 6-0, 6-0 in the first round before falling in the semifinals. She rebounded for a three-set win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the third place match.

In first doubles play, Valpo's teams of Janssen and Sajevic along with Evangelist and Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) each advanced to the semifinals before falling.

Valparaiso will return to action on September 30 hosting an Alumni Tournament for the first time beginning at 3 p.m.