Valparaiso recorded its first victory of the 2004 spring season on Friday evening as the Crusaders defeated Wright State 4-3 at the Northwest Athletic Club in Michigan City, Ind.

The Brown and Gold opened the match winning a very crucial doubles point. Jay Adams (Detroit, Mich./Andover H.S.) and Evan Roller (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Salem H.S.) notched an 8-6 win at third doubles, the only contest that was not extended past eight points. Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./Saint Charles North H.S.) dropped a narrow 9-7 match to Scott Hayden and Brian Gavin at second doubles 9-7. Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Jeff Vrabel (Allen Park, Mich./Saint Francis Cabrini H.S.) pulled out a 9-8 victory in a tie-break however to give Valpo the first point of the day. The duo registered a 7-3 win in the tiebreak.

In singles action, Wright State won in straight sets at both third and fifth singles, to pick up a pair of points. Roller earned a victory for the Brown and Gold at the sixth position when Mike Forcher was forced to retire with the match tied 2-2 in the first set. Dunham-Freer posted a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at the top spot of Kevin Teufel and Vrabel cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 victory at fourth singles over Gavin. Kooyers fell in a super tiebreak at second singles allowing the Raiders to earn their third point of the day. After dropping the first set 6-1, he rebounded to take set two 7-6 winning 7-4 in a tiebreak. He then dropped the super tiebreak 10-4.

Valparaiso (1-3) will return to the courts next Friday evening as the Crusaders entertain Dayton at the Northwest Athletic Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.