Playing their final match of their spring trip in Orlando, Fla. on Wednesday morning, Valparaiso’s men’s tennis team suffered a 5-2 loss against Monmouth at Lake Cane.

The Hawks won a pair of three-set matches in singles play which proved to be the difference in the match.

Valpo started the match with a win at number three doubles as Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) and Michael Woodson (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft H.S.) eanred an 8-3 victory over Ben Dashiell and Oliver Grimbly, the duo’s second straight win as partners.  Monmouth (3-6) won both of the other doubles contests though to take the day’s first point.

Harvey Bhalla and David Sherwood topped Tom Litscher (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial H.S.) and Arne Deihle (Reutlingen, Germany/Johannes Kepler H.S.) 8-4 at number two doubles while Laurence Heads and Ian Terpilowski topped Adam Whitmer (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) and Chris Baum (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.) 8-6 at the top spot.

Monmouth (3-6) took a 2-0 lead as Sherwood topped Whitmer 6-1, 6-1 at number two singles before Valpo tried to fight back.  Siddarth Mehta (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.) earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Anthony Desarno at sixth singles while DeHerrera beat Grimbly 6-2, 6-1 for his second straight win at five singles to tie the match 2-2.  DeHerrera now has a team-leading seven singles wins.

Heads earned a 6-3, 6-3 win against Kyle Stump (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth H.S.) at the top of the lineup to put the Hawks on top 3-2 before Bhalla posted a three-set victory over Baum 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at number three singles to clinch the victory.  Dashiell added a 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 win against Litscher at the fourth spot in the final match of the day.

Valparaiso (2-8) will have 10 days off before beginning Horizon League action on March 20 in Green Bay, Wis.  First serve is set for 10 a.m. against the Phoenix of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.