The Valparaiso University women's tennis team opened its fall schedule on Friday and Saturday competing in the Indiana State Invitational held in Terre Haute, Ind.

In singles action, freshmen Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North H.S.) and Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers H.S.) each won one of their contests in flight two. Chada posted a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Evansville after dropping her initial match, while Janssen won her first collegiate match, also defeating an opponent from Evansville 6-1, 6-1.

Valpo had the most success in the third flight of singles. Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) dropped her opening match before rebounding to defeat a pair of opponents from Evansville. She won her second match 6-0, 6-1 before winning match three 6-2, 6-1 to earn a fifth place finish. Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) won her first match of the tournament in the flight over another Evansville opponent. She posted a 6-4, 6-1 win before dropping the next two and finishing in fourth place.

Charmane Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) also earned a fourth place finish for the Crusaders in the fourth flight. She defeated a Butler opponent in the opening round 6-1, 6-3 before falling to a pair of Miami (Ohio) competitors.

In doubles action, Valpo struggled for victories. The lone win by a doubles pair came in the first flight as Chada and Evangelist defeated their teammates Janssen and Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) 8-4.

Valpo will return to action on September 27 when the Crusasders host Indianapolis at noon and Dayton at 3 p.m.