Valparaiso opened the 2006 fall tennis season on Saturday and Sunday with several top performances at the DePauw Invitational held in Greencastle, Ind.

Senior Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) finished runner-up in the top singles flight while Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) also finished third in the same bracket. Janssen posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the first round before rallying from a set down for a three-set victory in the semifinals. She eventually fell in the championship to Liz Bondi of DePauw 7-5, 6-3. Evangelist was a straight sets winner in both her first round match and third place match but fell to Bondi in the semifinals.

Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) finished third for the Crusaders in the second singles flight, posting a pair of straight set triumphs. She fell in the semifinals to Greer Mackie of DePauw, the eventual flight champion.

Freshman Julie Wingstrom (Wolcotville, Ind./Westview H.S.) had an impressive Valpo debut, finishing third in the fourth singles flight. Wingstrom posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the first round and a 6-3, 6-2 win in the third place match.

Lauren Kloostra (Wyoming, Mich./Calvin Christian H.S.) also earned a third place singles finish in the sixth flight. The sophomore cruised 6-0, 6-0 in the first round before falling in the semifinals. She rebounded for a three-set win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the third place match.

In first doubles play, Valpo's teams of Janssen and Sajevic along with Evangelist and Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) each advanced to the semifinals before falling.

Valparaiso will return to action on September 30 hosting an Alumni Tournament for the first time beginning at 3 p.m.