Friday, April 02, 2004

Valparaiso's women's tennis team won its third straight match on Friday afternoon, despite a four-week lay-off as the Crusaders swept St. Mary's (Ind.) 7-0 in South Bend, Ind.

The Crusaders took control of the match from doubles play as Mara Sonkin (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South H.S.) and Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North H.S.) teamed for an 8-3 victory at the top spot, while Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) and Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) tallied an 8-2 win at the second spot. Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwneger H.S.) and Jill Dierberg (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) also registered an 8-4 triumph at third doubles.

In singles play Valpo against won easily, taking each match in straight sets. Sonkin and Janssen each won by identical 6-2, 6-2 scores at the top two spots, while Danko was tied with her opponent at 2-2 in the first set when her opponent retired. Dierberg notched a 6-4, 6-2 victory at fourth singles, while Chada was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at fifth singles for the Brown and Gold. Evangelist rounded out the line-up with a 6-1, 6-1 win at sixth singles for the Crusaders.

Valparaiso improves to 4-4 with the win and will return to action on Monday afternoon as the Crusaders travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for a 2 p.m. CDT match against Indiana State. The contest is the make-up of Wednesday's contest that was postponed due to rain. St. Mary's falls to 10-4 with the loss.