Friday, October 14, 2011

Valparaiso’s men’s tennis team wrapped up the fall portion of the 2011-2012 schedule on Friday afternoon with doubles play at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships held at the Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio.

“Our guys played really well today,” head coach Jim Daugherty said.  “I’m really proud of how hard they played.  There were some pivotal games early on in each match that changed the complexion of the match.  The guys battled the whole way and fought hard against some of the top doubles teams in the country.  Every game was close.”

Chris Baum (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.) and Adam Whitmer (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) battled the tournament’s eight seed, Billy Bertha and Alex Kostanov of Wisconsin before falling 8-4 in the round of 64.

In the Crusaders’ other match on Friday, Eric Honert (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) and Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) dropped an 8-3 decision to Michigan’s duo of Michael Zhu and Alex Buzzi.

Valparaiso will return to the courts to begin the spring season in late January or early February.