Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Eric Honert (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.) won his 20^th singles match of the season on Wednesday evening helping lift Valparaiso to a 4-3 victory over Aquinas at the Valpo Tennis Complex.

Honert defeated Nik Artaev 6-4, 6-2 at number two singles to improve to 20-10 during his sophomore campaign, matching Nic Kooyers’ school mark set in 2005-2006.

With Valpo trailing after the opening doubles point, Michael Woodson (Raleigh, N.C./Ravenscroft H.S.) tied the match at a point a piece, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Peter Tratt at number six singles.  The Saints retook the lead as John Telfer downed Siddarth Mehta (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.) 6-2, 6-2 at number five before Honert tied the match at two.

Travis Wolf put Aquinas back on top 3-2 with a 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Kevin DeHerrera (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) at third singles.  Adam Whitmer (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview H.S.) added a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory at number four against Kyle Masteller, setting the stage for number one singles.

Chris Baum (Charlotte, N.C./Providence H.S.) clinched the match, posting a three-set win over Aaron Hendrick.  Baum needed more than two-and-a-half hours to post the 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3 victory, handing the Saints just their second loss of the season.

Aquinas (21-2) won the day’s first points, taking two of the three doubles contests.  Whitmer and DeHerrera posted an 8-2 victory at the second spot for Valpo against Wolf and Masteller, but it would not be enough.  Artaev and Hendrick downed Baum and Honert 8-3 at the top spot while Telfer and Tratt topped Woodson and Carlton Lyons (South Bend, Ind./Clay H.S.) 8-5 at number three doubles.

Valparaiso (8-13) will close out the 2011-2012 season on Saturday afternoon at the Valpo Tennis Complex, battling UIC.  First serve is set for 2 p.m.