Saturday, February 04, 2006

Valparaiso's men's tennis team took to the road on Saturday afternoon traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. but dropped a 7-0 decision to Western Michigan.

The Broncos (5-1) swept doubles to open the contest. Valpo's Nic Kooyers and Mike Shideler fell 8-4 to Brady Crosby and Bryan Norville at the top spot while Dave Bukowski and Mike Wagner dropped an 8-1 match in the second spot. Western Michigan's Jeff French and Tim Bradshaw finished the sweep with an 8-3 victory over Valpo's Joe Venegas and Alex Lau.

In singles play, Lau pushed Staub to three sets at sixth singles before falling 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Western Michigan won the other five matches in straight sets. Kooyers fell 6-4, 6-2 to Orozco at the top of the lineup while Venegas dropped a 6-4, 6-1 decision at number two. At third singles, Kevin Hayward picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win over Shideler while French was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Wagner at number four. Norville was triumphant 6-2, 6-0 at the fifth spot for the Broncos.

Valparaiso (0-3) will return to the courts next Saturday afternoon in Muncie, Ind. as the Crusaders face Ball State. First serve is set for 4 p.m. CST.