After starting the season with a 2-0 record in dual play, the Valparaiso University women’s tennis team suffered its first setback on Friday night against Big Ten foe Purdue. The Crusaders dropped the match 7-0 at the hands of the Boilermakers.

How It Happened

• The Crusaders (2-1) won seven total games in doubles play, but the Boilermakers (3-1) took the doubles point after winning on all three courts. The reigning Missouri Valley Conference Doubles Team of the Week had the most success of any Crusader duo against their Big Ten adversaries. Freshman Claire Czerwonka (Kenosha, Wis. / Saint Joseph Catholic Academy) and sophomore Dao Sysouvanh (Sun Prairie Wis. / Sun Prairie) dropped their No. 2 doubles match 6-3 to Purdue’s Rafaella Baquerizo and Seira Shimizu.
• The Crusaders lost the remaining doubles matches 6-2. Freshman Jelena Vujanic (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove) and senior Randi Wind (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) fell at the top spot, while junior Meg Modesto (Chesterton, Ind. / Chesterton) and sophomore Jordan Kopfer (Eagan, Minn. / Eastview) were bested at No. 3.
• Valpo’s strongest singles performance came at No. 1, where Czerwonka – fresh off winning the MVC Singles Player of the Week Award – gave Purdue’s Ena Babic a quality match. Babic took the first set 6-3, and Czerwonka held a 4-3 edge in the second set before Babic clawed from behind to capture a 6-4 win to conclude the match.
• The Boilermakers were victorious in straight sets at the other five singles slots.

Thoughts from Head Coach Tammy Cecchini

“I’m really proud of our performance against one of the best teams we will play all season. We played great tennis tonight, and this will only give us more confidence and make us stronger going forward.”

Up Next

The Crusaders will continue a busy weekend with the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday in Holland, Mich. The match against Hope College begins at 2 p.m. CT