The Valparaiso University tennis team began play at the ITA Midwest Regional, hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. starting on Thursday. Jolene Fernandes (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) earned a victory in the first round of the singles qualifying draw.

How It Happened

• Fernandes topped Bowling Green’s Ionna Tsadari 6-1, 7-5 in the first round of qualifying. The straight-set victory came over a 2022 First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection and three-time Academic All-MAC choice.
• Fernandes moved on to the second round of qualifying later in the day and fell to Kiley Rabjohns of Northwestern 6-2, 6-2.
• Elsewhere in the first round of singles qualifying, Elizabeth Sobieski (Muskego, Wis. / Muskego) fell 6-2, 6-1 to Matilde Morais of Michigan State. In addition, Mia Bertino (Lockport, Ill. / Joliet Catholic) dropped her match to Violeta Martinez of Illinois 6-1, 6-3 as both Beacons squared off with Big Ten competition.

Up Next

The ITA Midwest Regional will continue on Friday. The doubles main draw first and second rounds will take place in addition to the first round of the singles main draw. Olivia Czerwonka earned a direct berth into the singles main draw. She will face Rosie Garcia Gross of Wisconsin on Friday. In addition, the doubles tandems of Sobieski/Czerwonka (vs. Illinois), Fernandes/Stone (vs. Illinois State) and Bertino/Kelly (vs. Ohio State) will all be in action on Friday.