Valparaiso dropped a 5-2 decision to Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon in DeKalb, Ill.

The Huskies opened with a win in doubles action, taking two of the three matches. Valpo's Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Tim Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) posted an 8-5 win at the top spot, but the Crusaders could not win at either two or three. Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Shabbi Khan (Karachi, Pakistan/Oasys H.S.) fell 8-5 at the second spot while Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) lost 8-4 at number three.

Northern Illinois (9-6) won at the top four singles spots to capture the match. Bukowski posted a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win at fifth singles for the Brown and Gold and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) was triumphant 6-4, 6-3 at sixth singles for the Crusaders.

Kooyers lost 6-3, 6-3 at the top of the line-up while Dunham-Freer dropped a 6-1, 6-4 decision at the second spot. Venegas fell 6-1, 6-1 at third singles and Shideler dropped a 7-5, 6-0 match at the fourth slot.

Valpo (2-10) will return to action on April 5, as the Crusaders travel to Fort Wayne, Ind. for a 3 p.m. match against IPFW.