A decorated and record-setting career ended in winning fashion on Sunday afternoon in Chicago as Valparaiso University tennis fifth-year senior Olivia Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) came from a set down to prevail in a three-set singles match, finishing out an unforgettable era that featured program records for career singles and doubles victories, a Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year award, an MVC Individual Singles Title and an MVC Individual Doubles Title.

How It Happened

• Czerwonka rallied from a set down to take her match, defeating UIC’s Tamara Malazonia 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2.
• At No. 5 Singles, Sydney Stone (Brisbane, Australia / Tyler JC) downed Zara Ryan 6-0, 6-3.
• The No. 6 Singles match saw Elizabeth Sobieski (Muskego, Wis. / Muskego) edge out a tiebreak win in Set 1 on her way to sweeping the match from Rodriguez Gregoris, 7-6(6), 6-3.
• The Beacons dropped the No. 1 Singles match in three close sets as UIC’s top performer Agnes Gustafsson edged Moira Silva (Houston, Texas / Houston Tennis Academy) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
• With the team score tied 3-3, the final match to finish was No. 4 Singles, where Mia Bertino (Lockport, Ill. / Joliet Catholic) prevailed in the opening set but Camille Belberka rallied to take the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
• Prior to singles play, the Flames won on all three doubles courts, taking a double point that proved pivotal.

Inside the Match

• Czerwonka finished the season with 25 singles victories, becoming just the second player in program history to win 25 or more singles matches in a single season, joining Kate Kollarova (2000-2001, 29).
• Czerwonka posted a season winning percentage of .758, the eighth-best single-season winning percentage in program history.
• Czerwonka finished her career with 88 singles wins and 78 doubles wins, both program records. She finished her career third in school history (men’s and women’s) in career singles victories, behind only men’s players Jeffrey Schorsch (2013-2017, 111) and Kyle Dunn (2013-2017, 92). She also finished third in school history in career doubles wins, behind only men’s players Charlie Emhardt (2013-17, 117) and Schorsch (113).
• Czerwonka finished with a career singles record of 88-44 (.667), the sixth best winning percentage in school history. Czerwonka finished with a career doubles record of 78-53 (.595), which ranks seventh in program history in terms of winning percentage.
• Although Olivia will move into an assistant coaching role next season and remain part of the program, this represented the final match where a Czerwonka played for the Beacons. Olivia’s older sister Claire began her career as a freshman in 2017-18, making this the end of a seven-year run where a member of the family has been on the team. Combined between the two, Olivia and Claire won 145 singles matches and combined for a total of 150 doubles wins (double counting matches where they played together as one win each). The Czerwonka sisters combined for 295 total victories at Valpo.
• Bertino closed out her collegiate career on Sunday. She finished her career with 47 singles wins, two away from cracking the program’s all-time top 10.
• Amazingly, the team played 10 matches decided by a score of 4-3 this season. Valpo was 4-6 in matches decided by the slimmest of margins.