Saturday, February 26, 2005

Valparaiso fell for the first time during the 2005 spring season Saturday afternoon, dropping a 5-2 decision to Stetson in DeLand, Fla.

The Hatters opened winning all three doubles matches. Valpo's Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) and Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) fell 8-4 at the top spot while Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./ Dwenger H.S.) and Jill Dierberg (Saint Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) lost by the same score at the second spot. Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) and Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) dropped an 8-2 decision at third singles.

Stetson (8-2) also won the top four singles spots. Chada earned Valpo a come-from-behind win at fifth singles 2-6, 6-2, 11-9 while Evangelist was a 6-2, 6-3 winner at sixth singles. Janssen fell 6-3, 6-0 at number one while Danko dropped a 6-0, 6-0 match at two. Dierberg fell 6-3, 6-4 playing third in the line-up and Scala fell 6-3, 6-2 at the fourth spot.

Valpo (2-1) will return to the courts on Tuesday as the Crusaders face Davidson in a neutral site match. First serve is set for 8 a.m. in DeLand, Fla.