Monday, September 23, 2002

Competing in singles for the first time as a collegian, freshman Nathan Gordon (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth H.S.) was victorious in the D flight at the Eastern Illinois Invitational on Friday and Saturday, while other Crusaders advanced to the semi-finals in other flights.

Gordon won three straight matches, all in straight sets to win the title, while also teaming with Tyler Neemann (Manassas, Va.) to win two doubles matches and advance to the finals in the B flight. Gordon was a 7-6 (3), 7-5 winner in the title match. Neemann was a singles semi-finalist in the B flight also.

In the A flight of singles, Jeff Vrabel (Allen Park, Mich./St. Francis Cabrini H.S.) won his first two matches before falling the semifinals in a super tie-break. Vrabel also teamed with Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) to advance to the A flight semis in doubles before falling 8-6.

The Crusaders will travel to Muncie, Ind. for the Ball State Fall Invitational next weekend.