Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Despite wins at both third doubles and sixth singles, Valparaiso was defeated by Shorter College 6-1 on Wednesday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.  Shorter entered the match 13th nationally in the NAIA rakings.

Valpo started the match winning one of the three doubles matches, and battled closely in another in a bid to take the opening point. The Crusaders’ Camill Burden (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) and Christine Antrobus (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead H.S.) defeated Katie Witmer and Quincey Mason 8-6 at the third spot in the lineup.  At second doubles, Stephanie York (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown H.S.) and Jackie O’Reilly (DePere, Wis./DePere H.S.) battled to the end against Carolina Brigneti and Giuliana Luconi before falling 8-6.  The Hawks won first doubles 8-1 as Emmanuelle Beaucoudrey and Danielle Monteith defeated Molly Keifer (Richmond, Ind./Richmond H.S.) and Katie Bilyeu (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo H.S.).

Lindsey Gustafson (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) earned Valpo’s lone singles win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Witmer at the sixth spot in the order to tie the match at one.  For the senior, she was playing in her first match of the season.

Shorter (7-3) won the other five singles matches though to secure the victory.  Keifer fell 6-3, 6-2 against Beaucoudrey at the top of the order while Antrobus dropped a 6-2, 6-3 match against Brigneti at the fourth spot.  Bilyeu suffered a 6-1, 6-3 setback at the second spot against Monteith while York was defeated by Luconi 7-5, 6-2.  O’Reilly forced a tie-break for the third set against Mason at fifth singles before falling 6-4, 2-6, 10-8.

Valparaiso (1-7) will return to the courts on Thursday afternoon as the Crusaders face Connecticut in Orlando.  First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. CDT.