VALPARAISO, Ind. -- The Western Michigan men's tennis team dropped its first match of the dual season against Valpo Sunday afternoon on the road. The Crusaders topped the Broncos 5-2 to drop WMU to 4-1 this season while the Crusaders improved to 2-2.
In doubles play, the duo of senior Ruben Greiner and junior Daniel Loebel earned a 6-4 win in the No. 2 spot to improve to 9-2 this season, but the Crusaders were able to claim the doubles point. A battle of ranked teams took place in the No. 1 spot, but the #33 ranked team of Jeffrey Schorsch and Charlie Emhardt beat the Broncos #37 ranked team of Jefta Kecic/Stephen Payne 6-2. In singles, Greiner and Loebel each earned wins as Greiner defeated Kissell 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 4 spot and Loebel earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Garder in the No. 5 spot. Greiner improved to 8-4 and Loebel moved to 13-6.
The Broncos return to action on Friday, Feb. 5 where they play at Iowa with the match time scheduled for 7 p.m.
Singles vs. Valpo
No. 1 Schorch (Valpo) def. Maik Steiner (WMU), 6-2, 6-0
No. 2 Bacalla (Valpo) def. Hamilton (WMU), 7-6 (4), 3-6, 10-6
No. 3 Kissell (Valpo) def. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Emhardt (Valpo), 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Garder (Valpo), 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 Dunn (Valpo) def. Eric Olivarez (WMU), 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 5, 4, 6, 2
Doubles vs. Valpo
No. 1 #33 Schorsch/Emhardt (Valpo) def. #37 Stephen Payne/Jefta Kecic (WMU), 6-2
No. 2 Greiner/Loebel (WMU) def. Bacalla/Gardner (Valpo), 6-4
No. 3 Dunn/Kissell (Valpo) def. Jimmy Beckwith/Steiner (WMU), 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2,