For the first time in 24 years, the Valparaiso men's tennis team defeated Butler. The Crusaders surged to a 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs at the Courts of NWI Saturday night.

"This was a milestone victory for this young group. I couldn't be happier for them. Hats off to the support tonight as well as the fight from our guys," head coach Jim Daugherty said. 

The Crusaders met little resistance in doubles play, as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams clinched the point.

Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) rolled to a 6-2 win over Butler's Brandon Woods/Pulok Bhattacharya at No. 1. 

Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Chase Hamilton (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) locked things up at No. 2 with their 6-4 victory versus Sam O'Neill/Billy Weldon. 

The Brown and Gold won the first four matches in singles action.

Schorsch won handily over Woods 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2. Bacalla registered a 6-3, 6-3 triumph versus Austin Woldmoe atop singles play.

Sophomore Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) recorded the match-clinching victory at No. 6 via a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bhattacharya.

Freshman Garrett Gardner (Poland, Ohio/Poland) won for the 14th time in his last 15 matches, dispatching Alex Woldmoe, 7-5, 6-4.

Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) dropped a three-setter to Tommy Marx, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-7 at No. 5.

Emhardt and O'Neill went toe-to-toe at No. 3 singles. Both players split the first two sets having needed tiebreakers. O'Neill just edged out the Crusader sophomore in the third-set tiebreaker, 10-5.

Nevertheless, the 5-2 victory advanced Valparaiso to 5-1 on the season. Butler's record fell to 3-5.

The Crusaders will be right back at it Sunday afternoon when they host SIU-Carbondale (12 pm) and Grace College (4 pm) in a doubleheader.