Wednesday, March 03, 2004

Valparaiso returned to the victory column on Wednesday afternoon as the Crusaders defeated Grossmont 8-1 in El Cajon, Calif.

The Crusaders won all three doubles matches to start the contest. Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) and Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North H.S.) notched an 8-3 victory at the top spot, while Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) and Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) posted an 8-2 win at second doubles. Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) and Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) also won by an 8-2 margin at third doubles.

Valpo then continued its triumph in singles play, winning five of the six matches against Grossmont (6-2). Sonkin posted a 6-3, 2-6, 10-5 victory at the top spot, while Danko won 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. Chada cruised 6-1, 6-1 at fourth singles, while at number five Dierberg registered a 6-0, 6-1 win. Evangelist posted her fourth straight victory, and fifth in her last six matches with a 6-1, 6-0 win at sixth singles.

Valpo (2-4) will continue its spring trip on Thursday with a 4 p.m CST match at Alliant International.