Saturday, February 11, 2012

Valparaiso opened the home portion of its tennis schedule on Saturday morning with a 7-0 shutout of Kalamazoo for the Crusaders’ second straight victory in a match played at the Homewood-Flossmoor Racquet Club in Flossmoor, Ill.

Valpo started strong, winning two of the three doubles contests for the day’s first point.  Megan Barthels (Grand Rapids, Mich./Central Catholic H.S.) and Kristin Zakiewicz (Bristol, Ind./Northridge H.S.) posted an 8-2 triumph over Olivia Bouchard and Kelsey Moran at the top of the lineup while Kaitlyn Hamel (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain H.S.) and Stephanie York (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown H.S.) secured the point with their 8-1 triumph over Cheryl Zhang and Jenna Riehl at the second spot.  Kalamazoo (0-4) won its only match of the day at third doubles as Paula Silverman and Caroline Foura topped Michele Fredlake (South Bend, Ind./Saint Joseph’s H.S.) and Angelina Goheen (Aurora, Ill./Rosary H.S.) 8-6 at third  doubles.

The Crusaders continued their solid play, sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.  Bartels posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over Silverman at number one singles Hamel added a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Moran at the second spot while Fredlake won by the same score against Bouchard at number four.  York notched a 6-4, 6-2 win over Riehl at the third spot and Zakiewicz added a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Foura at number five.  Lauren Kammerer (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.) rounded out the lineup with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) at sixth singles.

Valparaiso (2-1) will return to Homewood-Flossmoor on Sunday afternoon to h ost Bradley.  First serve is slated for 3:30 p.m.