Lindsey Gustafson (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) won her third straight singles match and moved to .500 on the season, but Valparaiso could not overcome a strong IPFW team on Wednesday afternoon, dropping its final non-conference match of the season 6-1 in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Gustafson won the opening set 6-3 and led 1-0 in the second set when Alexa Rang retired due to injury at sixth singles. With the win, the senior improves to 4-4 in singles play this season.

The Mastodons won the other five singles contests in straight sets though.  Amy Recht was a 6-1, 6-1 winner against Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) at the top of the lineup while Ingrid Ballus downed Molly Keifer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) by the same score at the second spot.  Sachi Janek downed Jenny Schwartz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora H.S.) 6-0, 6-2 at three while Yuka Kobayashi topped Katie Bilyeu (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo H.S.) 6-1, 6-1 at fourth singles.  Katie Brien added a 6-2, 7-5 win over Stephanie York (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown H.S.) at the fifth spot.

IPFW (23-3) won all three doubles matches as well.  Ballus and Kobayashi were 8-5 victors over Sajevic and Keifer at one doubles while Janek and Recht topped Schwartz and Julie Wingstrom (Dallas Lake, Ind./Westview H.S.) by the same score at two.  Brien and Rang topped Bilyeu and  York 8-3 at the bottom of the lineup.

“Doubles is improving as we had several close matches today,” head coach Traci Young said.  “It was tough to play today with the weather as cold as it was.”

Valparaiso (1-18) will return to action on Friday afternoon in Chicago, Ill. for a 2 p.m. match against UIC.