Saturday, April 23, 2005

Valparaiso posted a 4-2 victory over IUPUI on Saturday morning in Macomb, Ill., assuring the Crusaders a spot in next week's Mid-Continent Conference Tournament.

The Crusaders started the match with a win in doubles. Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Shabbi Khan (Karachi, Pakistan/Oasys H.S.) posted an 8-2 win at the second spot and Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) notched an 8-6 win at third doubles to secure the point. Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) and Tim Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) trailed 8-7 at the top spot when their match was stopped because the doubles point was decided.

In singles action, Dunham-Freer, who moved up to first singles, notched a 6-3, 6-1 win. Wagner also won easily at the sixth spot, 6-0, 6-0. IUPUI (2-13, 2-3 Mid-Con) posted wins 6-3, 6-4 over Kooyers at two and 6-2, 6-3 over Shideler at fourth singles. Venegas clinched the match with his 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (4) win at third singles in a third-set tie-break. Bukowski was even 3-6, 6-1, 3-3 at fifth singles when the match was stopped.

Valparaiso (7-12, 4-1) will face UMKC on Sunday morning beginning at 9 a.m. in the final regular season match of the season in Macomb. The winner will earn the second seed in the conference tournament and finish in second place during the regular season.