Sunday, April 15, 2007

Valparaiso notched its fourth straight victory overall on Sunday morning as the Crusaders wrapped up the regular season with a 5-2 victory over Western Illinois in Rochester, Mich.

The Crusaders came out strong, sweeping the doubles point. Whitney Chada (Downers Grove, Ill./North H.S.) and Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) got the team rolling with an 8-2 victory over Stephanie Baumer and Constanza Camacho at the second spot. Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) and Jenny Schwartz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora H.S.) then added a win over Courtney Brooks and Jessica Drake by the same score. Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) and Julie Wingstrom (Wolcotville, Ind./Westview H.S.) finished the sweep with their 8-6 triumph over Kim Lennartsson and Yana Meinert at number one doubles.

In singles play, the Crusaders won the first three matches to secure the victory. Sajevic won her sixth straight singles match, defeating Meinert 6-0, 6-2 at the third spot while Chada was a 6-1, 6-1 victor against Baumer at number four. Evangelist clinched the victory with her 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles. Western Illinois (11-8, 4-3 Mid-Con) got on the scoreboard when Lennartsson used a third-set tie-break to beat Janssen at number one singles, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8. Drake made it two straight wins for the Westerwinds with her 6-2, 3-6, 11-9 win at sixth singles, but Schwartz added Valpo's final point at number five with a 3-6, 6-1, 12-10 triumph against Brooks.

Valparaiso (11-9, 5-2) will head to the Mid-Continent Conference Women's Tennis Championships, beginning Friday at the Valparaiso University Tennis Complex, looking for its third straight tournament crown. Semifinal action is set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with the championship taking place on Saturday at 10 a.m.