Crusaders Earn Sunday Sweep over SIUC, Grace College

VU-Crusaders-Earn-Sunday-Sweep-over-SIU-Grace-CollegeValparaiso picked up two more wins on the 2014-15 season Sunday, defeating SIU-Carbondale and Grace College at the Courts of NWI.

The Crusaders received a big push from the bottom of their lineup in a 5-2 win over SIU-Carbondale.

Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) dropped their doubles match at No. 1, 6-2, to Michal Kianicka/Alex Pozo, but their teammates at Nos. 2 and 3 picked them up.

Dave Bacalla (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) and Chase Hamilton (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) doubled up Max Phipps/Daniel Martinez, 6-3.

The Valpo tandem of Garrett Gardner (Poland, Ohio/Poland) and Lucas Waak (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) provided the big win at No. 3 with a 7-5 triumph over Jonny Rigby/Szymon Opieczonek.

The Crusaders carried the momentum of their doubles win into singles play, where they won the first four matches.

Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) recorded a quick 6-1, 6-3 win versus Phipps at No. 5. Junior Michael Savaglio (Kenosha, Wis./Mary D. Bradford) registered a 7-6 (1), 6-1 victory at No. 5 over Ransom Braaten.

Emhardt supplied the match-clinching win at No. 3 via a 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Pozo. Gardner followed with a tight 7-5, 6-4 victory over Opieczonek at No. 4.

No. 1 and No. 2 both went to three sets.

Schorsch ended up on the wrong side of a 6-7 (4), 6-3, 10-2 match versus Kianicka at No. 2. Rigby earned a point for the Salukis with his 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8 win atop singles versus Bacalla.

"We started out a bit slow in doubles but really picked it up to close out the doubles point at 2 and 3. It was an impressive performance top to bottom against a very good SIU team," head coach Jim Daugherty said.

Valpo then tallied a 7-0 shutout of Grace College later in the afternoon.

Waak and Savaglio blanked Ricardo Bedon/David Driscoll at No. 2 doubles before Hamilton and Danny Oakes (Elburn, Ill./Saint Charles North) secured the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 1.

Both Oakes and Brian Hickey (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) scored perfect 6-0, 6-0 wins in singles play at No. 5 and 4, respectively. Playing at No. 1, Savaglio recorded a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ethan Grove.

Dunn defeated Gabe Vervynckt 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2. Valparaiso finished off the shutout at No. 3 singles with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 triumph from Hamilton.

Valpo (7-1) will play host to Olivet Nazarene and Chicago State next Friday at the Courts of NWI in another doubleheader. First serve is scheduled for 10 am CT.