Valparaiso posted its second straight victory over a Mid-Continent Conference opponent in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders defeated Southern Utah 5-1 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Doubles matches were not contested and Valpo jumped in front with a win at sixth singles by default. Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) posted an easy 6-0, 6-1 victory at the top of the lineup while Jill Dierberg (Saint Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) was a 6-0, 6-4 winner at the second spot.

Southern Utah's (0-4) Veronica Cortes earned the Thunderbirds' lone point with a 3-6, 7-5, 10-7 win over Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) at third singles but Valpo's Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) cruised at number four 6-1, 6-0. Molly Keifer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) also earned a win at the fifth spot with a pair of tiebreakers, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4).

Valpo (4-2) will return to the courts on Sunday morning with an 11 a.m. CST contest against San Jose State in Las Vegas.