Saturday, October 08, 2005

Valparaiso hosted its alumni on Saturday afternoon at Brown Courts for its annual alumni match and the current Crusaders were pushed to the limits but finally came out on top by the score of 9-6.

The current team played well in doubles action, winning four of the five points. Nic Kooyers and Joe Venegas downed Nate Buckert and Nic Vuko 8-6 while Mike Wagner and Dave Bukowski defeated Marc VeVerka and Jon Coles 9-8 in a tight match. Dan Brunette and Alex Lau were 8-4 winners over Ben Freer and Jeff Vrabel while Blain Keller and Evan Roller defeated Cliff Barnett and Jon Huffman by the same score. The alumni's lone doubles win came as Jason Baldwin and Jay Adams defeated fellow alums Pete Barnett and Steve Jenny 8-6.

The alumni made their move in singles play. Freer defeated Kooyers 11-9 while Buckert defeated Wagner 8-2. Vuko topped Bukowski 8-5 and Coles was an 8-4 winner over Brunette. Vrabel also posted a 6-2 victory over Keller.

Valpo earned singles wins by Venegas 8-6 over VeVerka, Lau topped Barnett by the same score, as did Keller over Chris Hill. Roller posted a 4-1 triumph over Barnett and Lau topped Adams 8-0.

The Crusaders will next play at the ITA Regional Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich. beginning on October 20.