Valpo Opens Spring Season Blanking Bradley
Sunday, February 2, 2003
After winning their last five matches of the fall season, the Valparaiso University women's tennis team continued its success on Sunday, shutting out Bradley 7-0 in Peoria, Ill. in the team's spring opener.

Valpo opened the contest by winning two of the three doubles matches to take the opening point. At the top spot, Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) and Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) cruised to an 8-3 victory. Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) and Patricia Arakaki (Campo Grande, Brazil/LaPorte H.S., Ind.) finished off the point with an 8-5 win at second doubles.

In singles play, the Crusaders swept four matches, saw another go to a super tie-break, and picked up a point after a Brave retired. Danko registered a 6-2, 6-1 sweep at second singles, while Scala led 3-0 in the first set before her opponent retired at third singles.

Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the fourth spot, while Arakaki won 6-2, 6-2 at fifth singles. Charmaine Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) also posted a straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-2 at sixth singles.

Sonkin, playing number one singles, had the toughest match of the afternoon. She needed super tie-break, after playing tie-breakers in the first two sets, to decide the match. The junior finally registered a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (11-13), 10-4 win to complete the sweep.

Valpo (1-0) will take a week off before returning to action on February 15 hosting Wisconsin Green-Bay at 3 p.m. and Evansville at 8 p.m. Both matches will take place at Matchpoint Tennis Center in Griffith.