Valparaiso Defends Title in a Thriller

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – Valparaiso defended their Horizon League title in dramatic fashion with Kyle Dunn winning the deciding tie break 7-4 to win the match 4-3.

Valparaiso came out strong winning the doubles point 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Jeffrey Schorsch showed why he was named Player of the Year for the third year in a row winning 6-1, 6-3 at the top singles spot. Chad Kissell finished soon after Schorsch winning in straight sets 7-5, 6-1. Schorsch's and Kissell’s matches were the points decided in straight sets.

Down 3-0 in the match, Cleveland State turned the momentum around with Kevin Goth winning the second and third sets 6-2, 6-1 after losing the first set. Ben Slade and Mirko Radosevic  bounced back from second set losses  to win their third sets to clinch two more points for Cleveland State and even the count at 3-3.

Kyle Dunn and William Malm went back and forth in the deciding No. 5 singeles with both players refusing to give in. Kyle Dunn breezed through the first set 6-2, Malm bounced back with a second set victory 7-6. In the third set, neither player could break serve with the set going to a deciding tie break where Dunn pulled away 7-4 to win.

With the win, Valparaiso clinches a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Crusaders will find out who they will be playing on Tuesday, May 2 at 5:00p.m. EST on NCAA.com.

BOX SCORE