Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Valparaiso dropped its final match of its spring trip on Wednesday afternoon falling 5-4 to Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Playing a nine-point match where doubles matches counted individually for points, Valpo managed to take one of the three contests. Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) and Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) teamed for an 8-3 victory at third doubles for the Crusaders. Monika Danko (Northfield, Ill./New Trier H.S.) and Christina Scala (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.) fell 8-3 at the top spot while Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) and Jill Dierberg (Saint Louis, Mo./Lutheran South H.S.) dropped an 8-1 match at second doubles.

The Crusaders managed three more wins in singles play, but Embry-Riddle (5-3) took the top three spots to win the match. Scala posted a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win at fourth singles while Evangelist rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 triumph at the sixth spot. Chada cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win at fifth singles for the Brown and Gold. Janssen fell 7-5, 6-0 at the top spot while Danko dropped a 6-1, 6-3 result at second singles. Dierberg battled at third singles before falling 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Valpo (2-3) will take two weeks off before returning to action on the road March 18 at Toledo. The match is slated to begin at 11 a.m. CST.