Sunday, February 02, 2003

After winning their last five matches of the fall season, the Valparaiso University women's tennis team continued its success on Sunday, shutting out Bradley 7-0 in Peoria, Ill. in the team's spring opener.

Valpo opened the contest by winning two of the three doubles matches to take the opening point. At the top spot, Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) and Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) cruised to an 8-3 victory. Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) and Patricia Arakaki (Campo Grande, Brazil/LaPorte H.S., Ind.) finished off the point with an 8-5 win at second doubles.

In singles play, the Crusaders swept four matches, saw another go to a super tie-break, and picked up a point after a Brave retired. Danko registered a 6-2, 6-1 sweep at second singles, while Scala led 3-0 in the first set before her opponent retired at third singles.

Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the fourth spot, while Arakaki won 6-2, 6-2 at fifth singles. Charmaine Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) also posted a straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-2 at sixth singles.

Sonkin, playing number one singles, had the toughest match of the afternoon. She needed super tie-break, after playing tie-breakers in the first two sets, to decide the match. The junior finally registered a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (11-13), 10-4 win to complete the sweep.

Valpo (1-0) will take a week off before returning to action on February 15 hosting Wisconsin Green-Bay at 3 p.m. and Evansville at 8 p.m. Both matches will take place at Matchpoint Tennis Center in Griffith.