Saturday, February 22, 2003

The Valparaiso men's tennis team dropped a non-conference match at Northern Illinois 7-0 on Saturday afternoon in Rockford, Ill.

The Huskies began the contest by sweeping the doubles point. Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Jeff Vrabel (Allen Park, Mich./St. Francis Cabrini H.S.) battled at the top spot, before falling 8-6. Chris Widmeyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller H.S.) and Nathan Gordon (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth H.S.) teamed at second doubles, while Tyler Neemann (Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson H.S.) and Mike Menghini (Iron Mountain, Mich./Iron Mountain H.S.) played third doubles for the Brown and Gold. Both duos dropped their matches 8-4.

In singles action Northern Illinois (5-3) won all six matches in straight sets. Dunham-Freer dropped a 6-3, 6-3 contest at the top slot, while Vrabel fell 6-4, 6-4 at second singles. Neemann was blanked 6-0, 6-0 while Widmeyer lost a 6-4, 7-5 match at fourth singles. Gordon was defeated 6-2, 6-1 at fifth singles, while Jay Adams (Detroit, Mich./Andover H.S.) lost the sixth singles match 6-4, 6-1.

Valpo, now 0-4 on the spring season, will return to action on March 7 when the Crusaders head to Kissimmee, Fla. for a neutral site match against Boston College.