Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Valparaiso opened its 2010 fall season on Wednesday afternoon with a 6-1 victory over Goshen at the Valpo Tennis Complex.

The Crusaders jumped on top early, sweeping all three doubles matches.  Jackie O’Reilly (Green Bay, Wis./DePere H.S.) and Stephanie York (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown H.S.) started the victory parade at the top of the order with an 8-5 win over Allison Hawkins and Rachel Lanctot.  Katie Bilyeu (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo H.S.) and Shea Hennessy (Palos Park, Ill./Marist H.S.) clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 triumph over Nikita Zook and Chelsea Wampler at the third spot.  Brittany O’Reilly (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest H.S.) and Kristin Zakiewicz (Crystal Lake, Ill./Northridge [Ind.]) H.S.) completed the doubles sweep at number two with an 8-6 win over Alyssa Dewing and Laura Krabill.

The Brown and Gold continued the strong play into singles.  York earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Wampler at number five singles while Bilyeu posted a 6-0, 6-2 triumph at the sixth spot against Lauren Stoltzfus to put Valpo within one point of clinching the match.  Zakiewicz, a freshman making her collegiate debut, secured the win with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Krabill at the fourth spot in the lineup.    Jackie O’Reilly, the lone senior on the team, added a 6-0, 6-2 win at number three against Hawkins.  Hennessy, another freshman in the lineup, added a 6-2, 6-1 win at the second spot for the Crusaders.  Goshen’s lone point came in the final match of the day as Lanctot rallied from a set down to defeat Brittany O’Reilly 2-6, 6-4, 14-12 in a third set tie-break.

“I am quite happy to open the season with a win,” head coach Traci Young said.  “Our freshmen played really well today winning in both singles and doubles in their first college match.”

Valparaiso will return to the courts September 17-18 in River Forest, Ill. for the River Forest Tournament.