Valparaiso split the first two sets in four different singles matches on the afternoon, but could not finish off any of the contests as the Crusaders dropped a 7-0 match against UIC on Tuesday afternoon at the Valparaiso University Tennis Complex.

The Crusaders posted their lone victory of the day at second doubles as Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) and Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) topped Eric Fey and Bastian Harbo 8-6. UIC (5-7) posted an 8-4 victory at the top spot against Alex Lau (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Senior H.S.) and Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) while winning third doubles 8-2 facing David Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) and Mike Wagner (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer H.S.).

In singles play, Shideler won the first set against Sam Sweeney in a tie-break, but dropped a pair of tie-breakers to finish the match 6-7 (5), 7-6 (8), 10-8. Venegas also dropped a tie-breaker for the third set 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 against Adriano Liccardo at second singles.

Bukowski and Wagner both dropped their first set 6-0 before forcing a third set. Bukowski ended up falling at fifth singles 6-0, 1-6, 6-1 to Fey while Wagner lost to Andy Lockhart 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 at the sixth spot. Sebastian Lystad defeated Kooyers in straight sets 7-5, 6-4 at number one singles while Bastian Harbo downed Lau 6-0, 6-3 at the third spot.

Valparaiso (3-12) will open Mid-Continent Conference action on Friday morning against Oral Roberts. First serve of the cluster in Rochester, Mich. is set for 8 a.m. CDT.