Friday, April 21, 2006

Led by the strength at the bottom of the lineup, Valparaiso continued its dominance in the Mid-Continent Conference on Friday morning recording its 27th consecutive regular season league victory after the Crusaders defeated IUPUI 5-2 in Chicago, Ill.

Valpo was led by its strong play at fourth, fifth, and sixth singles, positions which the Crusaders have yet to be defeated during Mid-Con competition. Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) was a 6-2, 6-0 victor over Tessa Williams at the four spot while Charmaine Stanislaw (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) defeated Andrea Burkhardt 7-5, 6-4 at fifth singles. Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) earned a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nikki Evans at the bottom of the order. The Crusaders also received a singles victory from Jill Dierberg (Saint Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) at the second spot as she defeated Allison Thompson 6-2, 7-5.

IUPUI (13-7, 4-1 Mid-Con) posted singles wins at the first and third positions. Mallory Stemle recorded a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) at the top of the order while Jessie Ritchie was a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.).

The Brown and Gold opened the match earning the doubles point, taking two of the three contests. After the Jaguars' tandem Stemle and Thompson defeated Janssen and Sajevic 8-1 at first doubles, Chada and Evangelist evened the point with an 8-5 triumph over Burkhardt and Evans. Dierberg and Stanislaw clinched the point with an 8-6 victory over Ritchie and Williams.

Valparaiso (10-7, 5-0) will look to maintain its lead in the Mid-Con on Saturday morning as the Crusaders meet Southern Utah beginning at 9 a.m. in Chicago.