The Valparaiso women's tennis team dropped their first match of the spring on Thursday afternoon, falling 9-0 at Embry-Riddle.

The Crusaders were playing short-handed as the hosts won one doubles match and two singles matches by default.

Embry-Riddle won the two other doubles matches easily. In singles action though, Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) forced a super tie-break before falling 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 at first singles and Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) went to a super tie-break at third singles before falling 6-4, 5-7, 12-10.

The Crusaders return to action on Saturday against Arkansas-Little Rock in St. Louis, Mo.