Friday, March 18, 2005

Despite wins at both fifth and sixth singles, Valparaiso was unable to defeat Dayton on Friday afternoon, as the Crusaders fell 5-2 to the Flyers in Dayton, Ohio.

Dave Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) needed three sets, but emerged victorious for the Brown and Gold 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 at the fifth spot. Shabbi Khan (Karachi, Pakistan/Oasys H.S.) notched a straight sets win at sixth singles by a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Dayton (9-5) took the top two singles matches in three sets on the way to the win. Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) fell 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 at the top spot while Ben Dunham-Freer (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands H.S.) also took the first set at second singles before falling in a third set tie-break 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7). Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) fell 6-3, 6-1 at fifth singles while Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision at the fourth spot.

The Flyers opened the match taking the first point after sweeping the three doubles contests. Dunham-Freer and Shideler fell 8-6 at first doubles while Kooyers and Khan fell 9-8 at the second spot. Venegas and Blain Keller (Muncie, Ind./Delta H.S.) lost 8-4 at third doubles.

Valparaiso (2-8) will head to Toledo, Ohio on Saturday afternoon for a 12:30 p.m. CST match against the Rockets of Toledo.