The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team battled the elements, an injury and the opposition on Saturday at Gregory Street Tennis Courts in Normal, Ill. The host Redbirds picked up a 7-0 victory in Valpo’s first outdoor match of the season.

How It Happened

• Valpo (5-15, 0-4 MVC) played without No. 2 singles player Jelena Vujanic (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove), forcing the majority of the lineup to play one spot higher than normal.
• The two teams faced difficult conditions for tennis, as strong winds impacted play.
• Illinois State (13-9, 4-1 MVC) won on all six singles courts, but several matches were tightly contested. Dao Sysouvanh (Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie) took her match against Jana Kustkova to a third set, but fell 6-4, 2-6, 10-5.
• Valpo’s lone win of the day came on the third doubles court, where Halle Roach (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) and Jordan Kopfer (Eagan, Minn. / Eastview) teamed up for a 6-3 win over Estelle Vanthier and Valerija Gercar. That marked Kopfer and Roach’s first win together in only their second match as a duo this season.

Up Next

The Crusaders will close out the regular season on Sunday at Bradley, a match that is slated to begin at 10 a.m. CT.