A veteran and a rookie recorded wins for the Valparaiso University tennis team on Friday as the Beacons dropped the team’s first Missouri Valley Conference road match of the year 4-2 in Bloomington, Ill. Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) and Lillian Kelly (Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Union) both picked up wins in singles play.

How It Happened

• Czerwonka cruised to a straight-set victory over Calculovic 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 Singles.
• Kelly also coasted to a straight-set win at No. 6, downing Rodrigo 6-2, 6-2.
• The No. 5 Singles match went to a third set and was halted when the team match was clinched, but the other three singles matches were sweeps in favor of the hosts. The Redbirds also picked up a tightly-contested doubles point with close wins at No. 1 (7-5) and No. 3 (6-4).

Inside the Match

• Czerwonka upped her season win total to 21 and picked up her 84^th career victory. She moved into sole possession of fourth in program history in single-season singles wins and is one away from matching her career-high 22 victories from the 2021-22 campaign.
• Illinois State was picked second in the MVC preseason poll. Valpo has played two matches this season and both have come against teams picked to finish in the top two in the league.
• Kelly’s win was her fifth of the season and she moved to 2-0 in dual matches.

Up Next

The Beacons (9-8, 0-2 MVC) will visit Bradley on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Peoria, Ill. to close the weekend of tennis.