Friday, April 20, 2007

Valparaiso registered its first Mid-Continent Conference victory of the season on Friday afternoon, defeating Centenary 7-0 in Shreveport, La.

The Crusaders coasted throughout the match, dropping just 10 games total on the day. In doubles action, Valpo allowed Centenary (0-14, 0-4 Mid-Con) to win just one point, at second doubles. With the Brown and gGold already having earned third doubles by default, Alex Lau (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson Senior H.S.) and Mike Shideler (Valparaiso, Ind./Munster H.S.) cruised to an 8-0 win over Alejadro Ahuja and Mark Rodgman at first doubles. Joe Venegas (Saint Charles, Ill./North H.S.) and Nic Kooyers (Holland, Mich./Holland H.S.) then coasted to an 8-1 win at the second spot against Gerry Lozano and Seva Kostelanetz.

Valpo's second point of the day came by default at sixth singles. Lau then shutout Kostelanetz 6-0, 6-0 at third singles and Kooyers clinched the victory with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Ahuja at the top of the order. David Bukowski (Mount Prospect, Ill./Prospect H.S.) notched a 6-0, 6-1 win over Jacob Dawson at fifth singles while Venegas was a 6-1, 6-2 victor over Rodgman at the second spot. Shideler completed the shutout with his 6-3, 6-1 win over Lozano at number four singles.

Valparaiso (4-14, 1-3) will close out the regular season in Shreveport on Saturday morning with a key 9 a.m. match against UMKC.