The Valparaiso University tennis team has announced its schedule for the 2022 fall season, which will begin this weekend with a pair of home matches at the Valpo Tennis Complex.

The Beacons will welcome Holy Cross at 9 a.m. and Olivet Nazarene at 3 p.m. on Saturday to begin the fall docket.

The team will head to the DePauw Invite in Greencastle, Ind. (Sept. 17-18) and the Illinois State Invite (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) leading into the MVC Individual Championships, which will be hosted by Missouri State (Oct. 7-9). The fall will conclude with the ITA Midwest Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich., beginning on Oct. 20.

“The excitement for the season is the highest that it’s been in the four years that I’ve been here,” head coach Bob Modesto said. “Each year, we’ve had an opportunity to build on the previous season, and we’re continuing to do so. We feel like we have an opportunity to be even better than last year.”

During the 2021-2022 campaign, the program posted its highest win total – both overall and in league play – since 2007. The team tied its highest overall win total since 2006 and captured its first victory in a league tournament match since the 2006 campaign.

Senior Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) returns after earning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors in 2021-2022, becoming the first Valpo student-athlete in any sport to be named MVC Player of the Year since the University joined the conference in 2017. She also became the first Valpo women’s tennis player to be named conference player of the year since 2002.

“When you start your lineup with Olivia Czerwonka, that’s outstanding,” Modesto said. “She has really worked hard over the summer. We’re excited to have her continue her career. We are looking forward to a great year from Olivia.”

Olivia’s older sister Claire Czerwonka has closed out her distinguished playing career, but she has remained part of the program as a graduate assistant coach.

“Having Claire help coach is going to make a significant difference,” Modesto said. “We can’t underestimate Claire’s coaching ability. She is going to be an all-star in a coaching role.”

Freshman Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Houston Tennis Academy) is expected to replace Claire as Olivia’s No. 1 doubles partner. Silva will slot into Claire’s spot as one of the top two in the singles lineup as well.

Senior Amanda Tabanera (Valencia, Calif. / Valencia) enters the season just outside of the top 10 in program history in career singles wins. She won 18 matches last season, tied for the eighth-most in a single season in program history. She’ll return to the middle of the Valpo singles lineup along with senior Demi Jhaveri (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake), who posted 14 singles wins a year ago. Junior Mia Bertino (Lockport, Ill. / Joliet Catholic), junior Allison McConnell (Westland, Mich. / Churchill) and freshman Elizabeth Sobieski (Muskego, Wis. / Muskego) will all play important roles as well.

“Amanda and Demi are all-stars in the middle of the lineup,” Modesto said. “They’ve had great success in the past and we expect that to continue this year. We feel really good about Mia, Elizabeth and Allison as well. A pleasant surprise has been how good the freshmen are right away. Moira has stepped up to the challenge of replacing Claire Czerwonka, and those are big shoes to fill. We are exceptionally excited for this year.”