Friday, February 16, 2007

Valparaiso opened strong winning the doubles point from undefeated Evansville on Friday afternoon but the Purple Aces rallied during singles to post a 5-2 victory over the Crusaders in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Crusaders opened the match with victories at second and third doubles to take a 1-0 lead. Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) and enny Schwartz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora H.S.) won their second consecutive match at second doubles, posting an 8-4 victory over the Purple Aces. Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) and Lindsey Gustafson (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy), playing together for the first time ever at third doubles then clinched the point with an 8-6 victory.

Evansville (6-0) rallied to post straight set victories at first, second, and third singles spots to move within a point of clinching the match. Chada then battled to three sets before falling 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 at the fourth spot. Schwartz dropped a third set super tie-break at fifth singles 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 in another tight match.

Gustafson earned Valpo its second point of the day, completing a perfect day for the sophomore with a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Stephanie Millis at sixth singles. Gustafson improves to 3-1 on the spring.

Valparaiso (2-2) will return to action Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Ind. against Robert Morris (Pa.). First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. CST.