Valparaiso, Ind. ? The Braves claimed to first two team points but couldn't hold on as the Valparaiso took four of six singles matches to squeeze out a home win in women's tennis action at the Matchpoint Tennis Center in Valparaiso on Friday.
Things started well for the Braves in doubles as senior Ashley Morris (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and junior Elise Montrose (Portland, Ore./Sunset) got the ball rolling in the Braves' direction with an efficient 8-3 win over Rachel Janssen and Jenny Schwartz at the No. 1 position.
The Crusaders would even-up at No. 3 doubles as Kim Sajevic and Charmaine Stanislaw posted an 8-3 win of their own against the Bradley tandem of Erin Krubeck (Boulder, Colo./Fairview) and Jess Sampias (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood).
Junior Teri Chan (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and freshman Kim Braun (Racine, Wis./The Prairie School) claimed their ninth doubles win of the year to secure the doubles point for the Braves with an 8-6 victory over Valpo's Whitney Chada and Kate Evangelist at No. 2.
Bradley stretched the team lead to 2-0 when Morris got back to her winning ways after a four match slide at No. 2 singles. Morris found her groove in a 6-1, 6-3 dissection of Whitney Chada.
Valpo reeled off three straight singles wins to hold a 3-2 team lead before freshman Erin Krubeck put the brakes on at No. 5. Krubeck earned a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 12-10 over Kim Sajevic to even the match.
The Crusaders had the final answer at No. 3 in another nail-bitter. Teri Chan claimed the first set over Kate Evangelist, 6-3, to bring Bradley within a set of the win. Evangelist rallied on her home court to take the second set 6-2, to even the match and send it to the tiebreak. Evangelist seized control of the tiebreak midway through and topped Chan, 10-4, to earn the team win for the hosts.
Bradley falls to 1-3 on the season.
The Brave hit the road for some late night travel on their way to Kalamazoo, Mich. where they will take on #50 Western Michigan on Saturday and hold over to play Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday.
Tennis Match Results
Braves vs Valparaiso
2/17/2006 at Valparaiso, Ind
Valparaiso 4, Braves 3
Singles competition
1. Rachel Janssen (VALPO) def. Elise Montrose (BU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Ashley Morris (BU) def. Whitney Chada (VALPO) 6-1, 6-3
3. Kate Evangelist (VALPO) def. Teri Chan (BU) 3-6, 6-2, 10-5
4. Charmaine Stanislaw (VALPO) def. Kim Braun (BU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Erin Krubeck (BU) def. Kim Sajevic (VALPO) 6-4, 4-6, 12-10
6. Molly Keifer (VALPO) def. Jess Sampias (BU) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Elise Montrose/Ashley Morris (BU) def. Rachel Janssen/Jenny Schwartz (VALPO) 8-3
2. Teri Chan/Kim Braun (BU) def. Whitney Chada/Kate Evangelist (VALPO) 8-6
3. Kim Sajevic/Charmaine Stanislaw (VALPO) def. Erin Krubeck/Jess Sampias (BU) 8-3
Match Notes:
Braves 1-3
Valparaiso 2-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,6,1,4,5,3)
