Friday, February 11, 2005

Even after dropping the doubles point, Valparaiso had a chance on Friday night, but fell in three three-set matches to Illinois-Chicago in singles play falling 5-2 at the Northwest Athletic Club.

Illinois-Chicago (3-3) opened with a win in doubles, taking the second and third spots. Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Shabbi Khan (Karachi, Pakistan/Oasys H.S.) were 9-8 winners at the top spot after winning the tie-break 7-4. Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.) fell 8-2 at the second spot while Tim Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) and Blain Keller (Muncie, Ind./Delta H.S.) dropped an 8-6 match at third doubles.

Shideler earned Valpo a three-set win at fourth singles 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, while Khan notched a 6-0, 6-4 win at the sixth spot. The Crusaders also had one set leads at second, third, and fifth singles before falling in each match. Venegas dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 contest at second singles, while Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) fell by the same score in the third slot. Wagner lost 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Kooyers was the only player for Valpo to lose in straight sets, dropping a 6-4, 6-0 match at number one singles.

Valpo (0-5) will look for its first win of the spring season next Saturday, September 19, as the Crusaders face Marquette. First serve in Milwaukee, Wis. is set for 3 p.m.