Valparaiso opened the new Valparaiso University Complex on Friday afternoon and the Crusaders atoned for a loss in doubles by sweeping the six singles matches as the Brown and Gold defeated Dayton 6-1 on a blustery afternoon.
On a day which began warm and sunny, Dayton (8-11) looked as if it was planning on spoiling Valpo's home opener. The Crusaders posted a win at second doubles to start the match as Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) and Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) topped Dave Peyton and Brad Roby 8-1. The Flyers responded to take the point though with wins at first and third doubles. Tom Murphy and Jamison Davis evened doubles at one all with an 8-5 win over Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) at the top spot. Rex Cabrera and Chris Jones then captured the point with an 8-5 triumph over Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Alex Lau (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Senior H.S.) at the third spot.
As the afternoon progressed and temperatures began to cool off, Valpo heated up in singles play. Bukowski tied the match at one with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Peyton at fifth singles and Kooyers gave the Crusaders the lead with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Murphy at the top of the lineup. Shideler put the Brown and Gold on the brink of clinching the match with his 6-4, 6-3 win over Roby at the fourth spot and Venegas earned the victory for Valpo with his 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Cabrera at second singles. Lau and Wagner each added come-from-behind wins to complete the singles sweep. Lau was a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 winner over Jones at sixth singles and Wagner downed Davis 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 at the third spot.
Valparaiso (4-8) will continue its three-match homestand on Sunday afternoon as the Crusaders host Wisconsin-Green Bay. First serve is set for noon.