The Valparaiso women's tennis team opened its season on Saturday and Sunday at the Sycamore Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. competing in a flighted tournament without team scores.

The young Crusaders squad struggled in the event, but recorded several victories. Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) won her second singles match in flight two with a 3-6, 7-5, (12-10) win over Laurel Clements of Butler.

In the third flight of singles, Patricia Arakaki (Campo Grande, Brazil/LaPorte H.S., Ind.) also won her second match of the tournament 6-3, 6-1 over Sam Yun of Indiana State.

Freshman Charmane Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) registered a 6-0, 6-0 win on Sunday over Mandy Lasecki of Indiana State.

In doubles play, Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) teamed with Scala to defeat Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) and Arakaki in a match-up of teammates in flight one.

In the second flight of doubles, Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) and Stanislaw registered one victory, 8-3.

Valpo will return to the courts on Sept. 27 when the Crusaders travel to Detroit for a 2:30 p.m. CDT match with the Titans.