Sunday, March 25, 2012

Eric Honert (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) won his seventh straight singles match but that would be the lone point Valparaiso would record on Sunday afternoon as the Crusaders dropped a 6-1 decision to Wright State at the Valpo Tennis Complex.

Honert needed three sets to defeat Hayden Joblin 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 at number two singles to improve his mark to 17-5 on the season.

Wright State (13-2, 2-0 Horizon) won four of the other five singles contests in straight sets though to earn the victory.  Martin Arguello notched a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Chris Baum (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.) at the top of the lineup while Lauri Makikalli needed three sets to defeat Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at third singles.  Michal Lyzwa topped Adam Whitmer (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) 7-6 (3), 6-2 at the fourth spot while Jamison Clark defeated Michael Woodson (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft H.S.) 6-2, 6-3 at number five.  Ricardo Pineda rounded out the lineup with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Siddarth Mehta (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.).

The Raiders opened the match sweeping the doubles point.  Clark and Joblin defeated Baum and Whitmer 8-3 at number one while Makikalli and Arguello won 8-6 against DeHerrera and Honert at the second spot.  Lyzwa and Evan Neuman won by the same score at third doubles against Woodson and Egan Hart (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft H.S.)

“This is one of the best Wright State teams I have seen in quite a while,” head coach Jim Daugherty said.  “I still don’t think we are very far off ourselves.  If we can dig a bit deeper I think we can convert some matches into wins.”

Valparaiso (6-7, 0-2) will return to the courts on Friday afternoon to face Bradley.  First serve in Peoria, Ill. is set for 6 p.m.