Sunday, February 11, 2007

Alex Lau (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Senior H.S.) recorded Valparaiso's first singles victory of the spring season on Sunday morning, but it was not enough for the Crusaders as they fell 6-1 to Eastern Illinois at Matchpoint Tennis Center in Griffith, Ind.

Lau notched a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jordan Nestrud at sixth singles to close Valpo's deficit to 3-1, but that was as close as the Crusaders would get.

Eastern Illinois (4-0) opened the match by sweeping the doubles point. Valpo's second team of David Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) and Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) fell in a tie-break in the tightest match 9-8 (7).

In singles, the Panthers won the top five spots all in straight sets. Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) nearly forced a third set at the fourth spot before dropping a second set tie-break 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Valparaiso (0-4) will take a week off before returning to the courts on February 24 in Milwaukee, Wis. against Marquette. First serve is set for 2 p.m.