VALPARAISO, Ind. (4/23/17) – The University of Detroit Mercy men's tennis team had its five-game win streak snapped in a 5-2 road loss at Valparaiso University on Sunday afternoon from the Valpo Tennis Complex.
The Crusaders clinched the regular season title and No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Tournament with the victory, closing the regular season at 21-3 overall and a perfect 7-0 in conference action.
The Titans fall to 11-12 overall and 5-2 in league play with the defeat. Detroit Mercy, Youngstown State and Green Bay all tied for second place in the Horizon League standings, but the Titans earn the two-seed in the HL Tourney after the tiebreaker.
Valpo clinched the doubles point with a tough 7-5 win at No. 2 and picked up four wins in singles to earn the victory.
Junior
Nathan Ponton picked up a win in straight sets at No. 3 singles with back-to-back 6-3 wins.
Senior
Kacper Stelmaszak picked up a hard-fought win at No. 4 singles in three sets. Stelmaszak won the opening set, 6-4, but fell in the second, 6-2. The veteran picked up a 10-7 win in the third for the Titans' second point in the match.
Ponton and sophomore
Artem Vasheshnikov were locked in a battle in the top line of doubles, but would not receive a decision as the match went unfinished with the score knotted at 6-6.
The Titans receive a bye in the opening round and will return to the court on Saturday in round two of the Horizon League Tournament from Ann Arbor, Mich.
