The Valpo men's tennis team returned to its winning ways Sunday with a convincing 5-2 win over Richmond at Westhampton Tennis Courts in Virginia. The Crusaders secured the doubles point and notched wins at No. 2-5 singles en route to their 11th victory of the spring.

The 57th-ranked tandem of Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) opened play with a quick 6-1 win versus Jacob Dunbar/Canyon Teague atop doubles play. Richmond's Alexandre Felisa/Jonathan Quenard answered back by doubling up Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli), 6-3, at No. 2. Chad Kissell (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) and Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) came through in the clutch for the Crusaders at No. 3, dispatching Brice Polender and Caleb Troy, 6-4. 

The Spiders evened things at 1-1 when Dunbar handed Schorsch a rare defeat at No. 1, 6-1, 6-2. Garrett Gardner (Poland, Ohio/Poland) quickly regained the edge with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over James Aronson at No. 5. The seesaw match continued when Alex Hahn eked out a 6-3, 6-4 win for UR at No. 6 against Dunn.

Bacalla, Kissell, and Emhardt righted the ship for Valpo, however. 

Bacalla downed Teague 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 for the junior's 12th win of the season. Kissell supplied the match-clinching victory for the Crusaders, persevering for a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) result versus Felisa at No. 3. 

Even though the match was already decided, Emhardt rallied for a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Troy at No. 4 singles. 

Valpo concluded its spring trip 2-1, boosting its overall record to 11-5. The Crusaders will return to Porter County where they'll have nearly three weeks to prepare for Xavier. The Musketeers (6-2) have four matches scheduled before they host the Brown and Gold on March 25th at the Jim and Mary Brockhoff Family Tennis Facility in Cincinnati.